FIFA ASEAN Cup: Malaysia won 3rd place and ended Vietnam's 12-year hoodoo

Malaysia were made to work hard before overcoming ASEAN powerhouse Vietnam in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 third-place match at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory that ended more than a decade of frustration against their Southeast Asian rivals.

The fixture represented more than just an opportunity for both sides to close out the tournament with a third-place finish. It also gave Tan Cheng Hoe's side the chance to break Vietnam's commanding recent head-to-head record, securing Malaysia's first win over the ASEAN Hyundai Cup champions since 2014.

In a notable tactical decision, Cheng Hoe opted to rest both Arif Aiman Hanapi and Brad Tapp for the fixture. In their place, the head coach handed starting opportunities to Hong Wan, Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili and Harith Haiqal Adam Afkar, refreshing his lineup for the tournament's closing match.

From the opening whistle, Kim Sang-sik's Vietnam side pushed hard for an early breakthrough through Williams Minh Hoang, Nguyen Hai Long and Khoa Ngo. However, Malaysia's defensive line, marshaled by Ubaidullah, consistently repelled every attempt orchestrated by the trio who had spearheaded Vietnam's ASEAN Hyundai Cup title triumph.

Sang-sik's pre-match prediction that Bergson da Silva would test Vietnam's defense proved accurate, with the lethal Johor Darul Ta'zim forward repeatedly probing for openings against goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang throughout the first half.

Bergson's clearest opportunity arrived in the 35th minute, but the Brazilian-born striker's effort was swiftly denied by a sharp save from Le Giang. Both sides continued searching for the breakthrough as the half wore on, but the scoreline remained locked at 0-0 heading into the interval.

Cheng Hoe made his first change of the second half, introducing Syahmi Safari in place of Quentin Cheng. This was followed by a double substitution bringing on Fergus Tierney and Syahir Bashah in place of Bergson and Hong Wan respectively.

The triple change proved decisive, shifting momentum firmly in Malaysia's favor. Tierney broke the deadlock for Harimau Malaya in the 62nd minute, giving the Malaysian side a crucial lead they would ultimately defend to the final whistle.

Vietnam believed they had been awarded a lifeline when Harith Haiqal appeared to commit a foul inside the penalty area, initially signaling what seemed to be a clear spot-kick. However, South Korean referee Ko Hyung-jin opted against awarding the penalty after reviewing the incident, a decision that preserved Malaysia's slender advantage at a critical juncture.

Vietnam continued to press Harimau Malaya in search of an equalizer through the closing stages, but Malaysia's defense stood firm, ensuring the 1-0 scoreline remained unchanged until the final whistle.

The result carries significant weight for Cheng Hoe's squad, marking Malaysia's first victory over Vietnam since 2014 and finally ending a long run of disappointing results against their regional rivals. Adding further shine to the achievement, Malaysia completed the entire tournament without conceding a single goal, finishing with a clean sheet record spanning 360 minutes of football across their FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 campaign.

Credit Photo : FAM