Malaysia National Team earned full 6 points from 2 matches after beating Vietnam National Team scoring 4-0 in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Round 3 Group F at Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.
With both teams eyeing their second win of the campaign, head coach Peter Cklamovski fielded four of Malaysia’s newly approved heritage players—Jon Irazabal, João Figueiredo, Rodrigo Holgado, and Facundo Garcés—in the starting lineup. Vietnam, meanwhile, started with French-Vietnamese defender Jason Pendant Quang Vinh.
From the outset, Malaysia dominated the tempo. The attacking trio of Figueiredo, Holgado, and Arif Aiman Hanapi relentlessly pressed the Vietnamese backline, forcing goalkeeper Filip Nguyen into several early saves.
In the 35th minute, Malaysian defender Dion Cools, now with Cerezo Osaka, nearly opened the scoring with a powerful shot from outside the box, only to see it cannon off the post. Vietnam’s night got worse moments later as Nguyen Thanh Chung was forced off due to injury in the 37th minute.
Just a minute later, Figueiredo tested Nguyen again with a sharp header, but the Vietnamese keeper rose to the occasion. Despite Malaysia’s dominance, the score remained 0-0 at halftime.
After the break, Vietnam coach Kim Sang-sik introduced key substitutes, including forward Pham Tuan Hai, in hopes of shifting momentum. But it was João Figueiredo who finally broke the deadlock in the 49th minute with a clinical finish, sending the home crowd into raptures.
The goal lit a fire under Malaysia, and Rodrigo Holgado doubled the lead just nine minutes later with a superb strike, marking his first international goal.
Desperate for a response, Vietnam turned to their talisman Nguyen Quang Hai, but Malaysia’s defense stood firm. Instead, La’Vere Corbin Ong added a third goal in the 67th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse.
Imanol Machuca, another new heritage recruit from Velez Sarsfield, made his long-awaited debut in the 72nd minute. Vietnam’s striker Nguyen Tien Linh had a late opportunity to salvage pride for his side in the 78th minute, but his tame effort was easily gathered by Syihan Hazmi Mohamed.
Malaysia sealed the emphatic victory in the 87th minute when Dion Cools rose highest to meet a corner with a thumping header, making it 4-0.
The result puts Harimau Malaya at the top of Group F with six points from two matches, and notably, they’ve yet to concede a single goal in the qualifiers.
Next up, Malaysia face Laos, while Vietnam will take on Nepal—both matches scheduled for 9 October.
Credit Photo : Simon Yap/SNE-Photo
