Cheng Hoe targets end to Malaysia's Vietnam drought
JAKARTA: Interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe hopes to end Malaysia’s wait of more than 11 years for a win over Vietnam in Monday’s FIFA Asean Cup third-place playoff at the Gelora Bung Karno.
JAKARTA: Interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe is aiming to end Malaysia's 11-year drought without a victory over Vietnam in Monday's FIFA Asean Cup third-place playoff at the Gelora Bung Karno stadium. The Harimau Malaya team last defeated Vietnam in 2014, with a 4-2 win in the second leg of the Asean Championship semi-finals at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi.
That victory secured Malaysia a 5-4 aggregate win and a place in the final. Since then, Harimau Malaya have lost their last nine matches against Vietnam, following a 2-2 draw in 2018. Cheng Hoe expressed his ambition to beat Vietnam but acknowledged the challenge ahead. He noted that Vietnam possesses strengths beyond their attacking prowess, including a robust defense bolstered by naturalized players.
Cheng Hoe's primary focus now is on his players' physical and mental recovery after a grueling series of matches. The third-place playoff is scheduled to commence at 5pm Malaysian time, while the final between Indonesia and Thailand will take place at the same venue at 9pm.
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