AFF Cup final – chance for Vietnam, Malaysia to come to throne

11/12/2018, 15:07

The AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 final is a chance for Vietnam’s and Malaysia’s football to come to the throne in Southeast Asia for the second time in their history, according the international media.

Vietnamese and Malaysian players (Photo VNA)

John Duerden, Asia correspondent of ESPN - a US-based sports television channel, warned Vietnamese fans should be careful despite their team’s easy win of 2-0 over Malaysia in the group stage. 

He explained that Malaysia lost 1-5 to Indonesia in the opener of the 2010 tournament but they beat the same rivals 4-2 on aggregate in the final to lift the trophy for the first time.

Vietnamese players have plenty of techniques and ability under the lead of Korean coach Park Hang-seo, hence, they become “harder to beat and more pragmatic”, he wrote.

It is coach Park Hang-seo that inspires his students to win, Duerden wrote, adding that Park’s philosophy in football is to win.

Malaysian coach Tan Cheng Hoe, who was an assistant when Malaysia won in 2010, has the same philosophy. 

“He has been around long enough to know that a coach won't be around long without it in Southeast Asia - but he has injected new life into the Malaysian team,” Duerden wrote.

The boss has a young team playing with aggression and ambitions, he added.

“Malaysia is certainly well aware of the advantages and disadvantages of Vietnam as this is the second meeting between the two teams,” Duerden wrote. 

According to Semuanyabola – a football news website of Malaysia – provided notable statistics ahead the final first-leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 in Kuala Lumpur on December 11.

It said throughout 2018, Malaysia has never lost at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium. 

Coach Tan Cheng Hoe and his students will take this advantage to ensure a comfortable outcome before the second-leg match in Hanoi on December 15. 

In 11 encounters over the past 10 years, Vietnam has won six while Malaysia has enjoyed victories three times with the last one at the AFF Cup 2014. 

Malaysian players should be careful with the attacks from Vietnamese rivals, Semuanyabola noted, describing it as a scary weapon of the “golden stars”.-VNA

Source: VNA


Related articles

(0) Comments
Focus
The Worthy Heir to the King of Clay’s Throne
BTO-The 2025 Rome Masters final delivered what could only be described as a “super classic” of the new tennis era. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz faced off in a long-anticipated showdown, and it was Alcaraz who emerged victorious to claim the prestigious title.
Do not miss
  • Colorful Áo Dài and Folk Dance Showcase Marks 50 Years of Liberation
    27 yesterday Culture
    BTO – On the morning of April 26, the Bình Thuận Provincial Women's Union organized a mass Áo Dài and folk dance performance at Nguyễn Tất Thành Square in Phan Thiết City, featuring the participation of 600 female officials, members,...
  • Farewell to the “Bavarian Giants”
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-After a courageous 2-1 victory in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, Inter Milan returned home to host Bayern Munich in the second leg. Though a one-goal lead was far from secure, the Italian side left no room...
  • No Miracle at Signal Iduna Park
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-Barcelona has a reputation for collapsing under pressure, having twice squandered significant first-leg advantages in the Champions League knockout stages. That gave Dortmund hope for a dramatic comeback at Signal Iduna Park in...
  • Phan Thiết – The 50-Year Journey: From Liberation to a Dynamic, Modern Coastal City
    one month ago Business
    April 19, 1975 – April 19, 2025: A proud 50-year milestone since the liberation of Phan Thiết. Half a century may not be long in the grand flow of history, but for Phan Thiết—a land once scarred by war—it marks a powerful transformation....
  • Red Devils Hold Off Blue Tide in Manchester Derby Stalemate
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-On the night of April 6, a classic Manchester derby unfolded at Old Trafford in Matchweek 31 of the Premier League, where Manchester United and Manchester City clashed in a high-stakes encounter. Despite having little left to fight...
  • Nou Camp Nightmare: Dortmund Swept Aside by Ruthless Barca
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-Barcelona put on a dominant display in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg, thrashing Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in a one-sided encounter at the Nou Camp. The Catalan giants delighted their home crowd with a goal-fest, featuring...
  • Liverpool Bounces Back with Vital Victory Over Everton, Keeping Arsenal at Bay
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-After consecutive failures in the FA Cup, Champions League, and League Cup, the morale of Arne Slot's squad has been declining. Facing pressure following Arsenal's victory in the early match the day before, Liverpool was compelled...
  • The Beauty of Hòn Cau Island
    one month ago LANDSCAPES
    March signals the perfect time for a visit to Hòn Cau Island (Phước Thể, Tuy Phong) as the weather transitions and the golden sunlight bathes the island. Located about 110 km from Phan Thiết, Cù Lao Câu is a pristine, uninhabited island...
  • The Final Goal
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-Manchester City now only has one goal left: winning the FA Cup to salvage what has been a “disastrous” season. As a result, Coach Pep Guardiola and his players have put all their energy into the world’s oldest football tournament....
  • Regaining the Top Spot
    2 month ago Sports
    Playing a day before their arch-rivals Barcelona, Real Madrid took full advantage of the opportunity to reclaim the top spot in La Liga with a comfortable 2-1 victory over Villarreal, thanks to a brace from Mbappe.
  • A Hard-Fought Victory
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-On the evening of March 19, the Vietnam national team played their first international match since winning the AFF Cup 2024, hosting Cambodia in a friendly at Gò Đậu Stadium (Bình Dương). Given their superior standing, a victory...
  • Farewell to the "King of Cups"
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-After suffering a 1-0 home defeat in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16, the French football powerhouse PSG was under immense pressure to win the return leg away at Liverpool. And they did just that, securing a place...
  • Surrendering the Title
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO- The highlight of Premier League Matchweek 28 was the showdown between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford. Arsenal desperately needed a victory to keep up with Liverpool, but they could only manage a draw, while the league...
  • Even Djokovic Can’t Defy Time
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-Novak Djokovic has just suffered a defeat against Botic Van De Zandschulp in the second round of  Indian Wells 2025, marking the first time in seven years that he has lost three consecutive matches. At 37 years old, Djokovic is...
  • Binh Thuan Province to cooperate with Sun Group to unlock its Tourism Strengths
    BTO – On early March, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and the People's Committee of Binh Thuan Province held a meeting with Sun Group regarding investment cooperation.
  • The King Has Fallen: Man Utd Crash Out of FA Cup
    2 month ago Sports
    Recently, Manchester United’s FA Cup title defense came to a crushing end as Fulham stunned the Red Devils in a dramatic penalty shootout to secure their place in the quarterfinals. Heading into the fifth-round clash at Old Trafford,...
  • Sunset Slope: Phan Thiet’s Hidden Gem for Breathtaking Views
    2 month ago LANDSCAPES
    BTO – Still in the heat of the first two lunar months, Sunset Slope on Co Mountain has become a renowned sunset-watching spot in Phan Thiet. Located in Phu Hai Ward, this stunning location offers breathtaking views of the mountains...
  • Victory Seals the Throne
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-After suffering a loss in the first leg at home last week, Manchester City finds itself in a tough spot in its quest for a spot in the Champions League Round of 16 against Real Madrid. This defeat marked their first loss to Madrid...
  • Tough game Alonso!
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-The Round 22 Bundesliga showdown between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich was one of the most anticipated of the season. On one side, there were the defending champions, and on the other, the league leaders. Bayern entered the...
  • Back to the Top for Barcelona
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-Before taking on Rayo Vallecano, Barcelona had the chance to claim the top spot in La Liga after both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were held to 1-1 draws in Round 24 (Real drew with Osasuna, Atletico drew with Celta Vigo). The...
POWERED BY ONECMS - A PRODUCT OF NEKO
AFF Cup final – chance for Vietnam, Malaysia to come to throne