Harimau Malaya fire warning to Vietnam: 'War is not over yet'

KUALA LUMPUR: Harimau Malaya interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe remains confident in his team's ability to overcome their recent 2-0 loss to Vietnam in the Asean Cup semi-final, despite their first-leg defeat at home. Cheng Hoe emphasized that Malaysia has not lost the overall battle, only the battle at hand. He acknowledged the difficulty Vietnam's home crowd may pose, but remains optimistic that the team will give their best effort in the return leg on Wednesday at My Dinh Stadium.

Cheng Hoe highlighted the need for the team to focus on improving specific aspects of their gameplay, such as final passes, transition play, and decision-making in the opponent's half. He expressed pride in his players, particularly the inexperienced backline that displayed strong character against a formidable Vietnam side, while also viewing the match as valuable experience for younger players like Ahmad Aysar Hadi Shapri and Ibrahim Manusi.

Vietnamese coach Kim Sang Sik expressed dissatisfaction with his team's overall performance during the match, admitting that their first-half preparations did not go as planned. He urged his players to improve before the return leg, while Xuan Son, the scorer of Vietnam's goal, remained optimistic about the upcoming challenge, believing he is prepared for another physical contest against Malaysia.