The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) has expressed that Malaysia's performance in the first leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinals did not warrant a 0-2 defeat against Vietnam. In a match held in Kuala Lumpur on August 16, the AFF noted that the two-goal margin did not accurately reflect Malaysia's efforts on the field.

Malaysia generated several quality chances but could not convert them into goals. One notable moment came when Faris Danish, who inadvertently scored an own goal to increase Vietnam's lead to 2-0, had an opportunity to rectify his mistake in the dying moments of the match. However, his shot was spectacularly saved by Vietnam's goalkeeper, Lê Giang Patrik.

Earlier in the match, Malaysia had a clear chance to take the lead when Faris broke down the left flank and delivered a cross into the penalty area for Paulo Josue. Josue's close-range shot was denied by Lê Giang, and Daryl Sham's follow-up effort went over the bar. The AFF highlighted another instance where Pavithran Gunalan put pressure on Vietnam's defense, showcasing Malaysia's attacking potential.

Despite these efforts, Malaysia conceded a goal just before halftime. A long pass from Lê Phạm Thành Long found Trương Tiến Anh, who controlled the ball expertly and delivered a cross that Nguyễn Xuân Son headed in, marking his third goal of the tournament. This goal put Vietnam ahead 1-0, despite Malaysia's competitive performance.

After the match, Paulo Josue echoed the AFF's sentiments, stating that Malaysia created more chances than Vietnam and had better ball possession. He acknowledged that while Malaysia performed well at times, mistakes led to their downfall, particularly the need for better vigilance just before halftime.

In the second half, Malaysia continued to apply pressure, but Xuân Son's shot was blocked on the goal line shortly after the restart. Vietnam faced a scare when Lê Giang received a red card for a foul outside the penalty area, but the decision was overturned after a review, allowing Vietnam to maintain their advantage.

Malaysia struggled to capitalize on their remaining opportunities, and in the 86th minute, Faris Danish inadvertently scored another own goal while trying to intercept a pass from Nguyễn Quang Hải, sealing a 2-0 victory for Vietnam.

Josue admitted that the second goal was unfortunate, stemming from an own goal, but he remained optimistic about Malaysia's future. He emphasized the importance of scoring first in the return leg and organizing a solid defense to create opportunities. "The opponent is very strong. I don't think they will give us many chances," Josue stated, expressing confidence in coach Tan Cheng Hoe's ability to turn the situation around.

Malaysia faces a challenging task in the second leg at Mỹ Đình on August 19, especially with several players injured, including center-back Rodney, who had to leave the field early in the first leg. Despite these challenges, Josue noted that the substitutes performed well, highlighting the team's resilience.

According to Fotmob statistics, Vietnam had an expected goals score of 1.07 compared to Malaysia's 1.00, indicating that both teams had similar quality chances, but Vietnam was more effective in their finishing.

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