Kuala lumpur: Harimau Malaya interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe remains optimistic about Malaysia's chances in the ASEAN Cup 2026 despite a 0-2 defeat to Vietnam in the first leg of the semi-final at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium, Cheras.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Cheng Hoe emphasized that while Malaysia lost the initial encounter on home turf, the team must put in their best performance in the return leg at Vietnam's My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi this Wednesday. He acknowledged the challenging atmosphere they will face but remained hopeful about turning the tie around. "We still have another 90 minutes to go. We didn't lose the war, just that we lost the battle," Cheng Hoe expressed during the post-match press conference.
Nguyen Xuan Son's goal during first-half stoppage time and an own goal by Muhammad Faris Danish Asrul in the 86th minute have given Vietnam an advantage ahead of Wednesday's decisive match. Cheng Hoe highlighted the importance of rectifying minor details, especially in final passes, transition play, and decision-making in the opponent's half.
Despite the unfavorable result, the coach praised his players, particularly the inexperienced backline, for their determination against a formidable Vietnam team. He also viewed the match as a valuable opportunity for younger players such as Ahmad Aysar Hadi Mohd Shapri and Ibrahim Manusi to gain exposure. "I'm optimistic that this kind of game will really give them the confidence, give them the experience for them to play better games in the future," he added.
Meanwhile, Vietnam head coach Kim Sang Sik expressed dissatisfaction with his team's overall performance, despite their victory. He admitted that their first-half strategies did not unfold as planned and dismissed any notion that Vietnam is already preparing for the final, insisting that his players must improve ahead of the return leg.
Nguyen Xuan Son shared his satisfaction with capitalizing on his opportunity against Malaysia's defense and anticipates another physically demanding match in Hanoi. The 29-year-old is confident in handling Malaysia's tactics as Vietnam aims to maintain their two-goal lead.