The result capped a disciplined performance at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, where two first-half goals proved enough to settle the contest.
Vietnam started the match aggressively, pushing nearly their entire lineup into Malaysia’s half within the opening minutes. Their early pressure produced the first clear chance in the third minute, when Nguyen Dinh Bac dribbled through the half-space and set up captain Khuat Van Khang, who shot wide under heavy marking.
The breakthrough came in the 11th minute. Dinh Bac, who would go on to play a decisive role throughout the match, delivered a pinpoint cross into the box. Defender Nguyen Hieu Minh met the ball with a well-timed header into the far corner, leaving goalkeeper Zulhilmi Sharani with no chance.
Forced to abandon their defensive setup, Malaysia tried to respond by pushing forward. In the 17th minute, Danish Hakimi found himself through on goal after a well-weighted pass, but goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien reacted quickly and blocked the attempt.
Vietnam doubled their lead in the 23rd minute after another strong run from Dinh Bac along the edge of the box. His pass was deflected by a Malaysian defender and fell to Pham Minh Phuc, who tapped the ball in from close range.
With the second goal, Vietnam took firm control of the match and continued to trouble the Malaysian back line with repeated attacks through the left flank.
The first half nearly saw a third Vietnamese goal when Viktor Le fired a powerful shot from a tight angle in the 35th minute, only to be denied by Sharani.
Malaysia made two changes after halftime, and the adjustments briefly shifted momentum. They gained more possession and created more attacking opportunities, while Vietnam struggled to maintain their tempo.
Vietnam picked up two quick yellow cards early in the second half, to Nguyen Thai Son in the 47th minute and to captain Van Khang three minutes later.
Despite growing Malaysian pressure, Vietnam remained steady. In the 55th minute, Dinh Bac once again caused problems when he dribbled past a center-back but was unable to launch a counterattack in time. Malaysia continued to rotate players, using multiple substitutions in hopes of finding a breakthrough.
Vietnam, meanwhile, began to slow the pace deliberately, focusing on ball retention and protecting their lead. Several Malaysian players showed signs of fatigue, and the Vietnamese side used short passing sequences to manage the remaining minutes.
Coach Kim Sang-sik introduced three midfield substitutions around the 68th minute to reinforce control.
Malaysia’s best chance late in the match came in the 83rd minute, when Rohisham Haiqal’s header struck Nguyen Phi Hoang’s arm inside the box. Malaysian players appealed for a penalty, but referee Ahmed Al Hatmi waved play on after a brief hesitation. With no VAR in the SEA Games, the decision stood.
Tensions rose in the final minutes. Abdul Rahman received a yellow card in the 87th minute for elbowing Quoc Cuong during a corner-kick preparation, and the referee issued a warning after a repeat of the action. On the Vietnamese bench, assistant coach Lee Jung-soo was cautioned in the 90th minute after reacting to a Malaysia throw-in.
Four minutes of additional time were played, during which Vietnam focused on keeping possession and closing out the match. The final whistle confirmed a 2-0 win and Vietnam’s advancement to the semifinals as Group B leaders.
Malaysia remain in contention for a semifinal berth as the best second-placed team. Their fate will be decided after the Group C match between Indonesia and Myanmar on Friday.
SEA Games men’s football: Vietnam 2-0 Malaysia
Comments are closed.