In a tense match against Malaysia, the Vietnamese national football team experienced frustration as they had two penalty appeals turned down by the referee. The match ended with Vietnam losing 0-1, a significant setback as it was their first defeat to Malaysia in official competitions in over a decade.

The first incident occurred in the 73rd minute when Lê Văn Đô collided with Malaysian defender Harith Haiqal in the penalty area. Initially, South Korean referee Ko Hyung Jin pointed to the penalty spot, suggesting a foul had occurred. However, after consulting VAR technology, he reversed his decision, denying Vietnam the opportunity for a penalty kick.

A well-known former FIFA referee from Vietnam commented on the situation, stating, “In this collision, the Malaysian player made contact with the ball first. The subsequent contact was a normal part of football. The decision not to award a penalty was correct.”

Later, in the 82nd minute, another potential penalty situation arose when Việt Anh's two consecutive shots appeared to hit a Malaysian player’s arm. The referee again paused the match to consult VAR, believing the ball may have touched the player's hand. However, after review, he concluded that the Malaysian player's arm was close to his body and did not warrant a penalty.

The former referee elaborated, “Although Việt Anh's shot struck the Malaysian player’s arm, it was positioned close to the body. Additionally, the Malaysian defender had just used his body to deflect the ball away.”

Without the chance to equalize from the penalty spot, Vietnam had to accept the defeat, marking a disappointing end to their hopes in this match. The team will look to regroup and prepare for future challenges as they aim to improve their performance in upcoming tournaments.