Kuala Lumpur, 10 June, 2025 – Following Vietnam’s heavy 0-4 defeat to Malaysia in the second round of Group F at the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, head coach Kim Sang Sik expressed deep regret to the fans and reaffirmed his commitment to preparing the team thoroughly for the decisive rematch in March 2026.
“I feel responsible and sincerely apologize to the Vietnamese supporters who traveled a long way to watch the match in Malaysia, as well as to those who followed us from home,” Kim opened during the post-match press conference at Bukit Jalil Stadium.
Vietnam held off Malaysia during the first half, but fell apart under pressure in the second half, conceding four goals and slipping to second place in the group. Coach Kim attributed the breakdown to injuries and squad limitations.
“We followed our game plan well in the first half,” he explained. “However, the injuries to two key center-backs—Thanh Chung and Tien Dung—completely disrupted our system. That was the turning point. We couldn’t execute our plan after that.”
According to Kim, the team was not in peak physical condition due to recent V-League commitments. “Our strategy was to defend well in the first half, then look for scoring opportunities in the second half with players like Quang Hai and Tien Linh. But the injuries to our defenders changed everything.”
Malaysia’s victory was powered by a wave of naturalized talent. All four goals were scored by players of foreign origin—Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Holgado, La’Vere Corbin-Ong, and Dion Cools. Head coach Peter Cklamovski fielded a starting lineup with nine naturalized players and introduced four more off the bench. The Australian coach dismissed criticism, saying, “As long as Malaysia wins, that’s all that matters.”
“We tried to analyze Malaysia as thoroughly as possible,” Kim added. “But their five new naturalized players performed beyond our expectations. It was incredibly difficult for us to deal with them.”
Despite the setback, Coach Kim remains focused on the road ahead. “This loss is a painful lesson, but we’ll use it to grow and improve in the upcoming matches. We’re already thinking about how to prepare better for the rematch next March.”
Vietnam, now second in the group with three points and a +1 goal difference, must win all remaining games and defeat Malaysia by at least five goals in the return leg to top the group and secure direct qualification. The mission is daunting—but not impossible—and Coach Kim has made it clear: the fight is far from over.
Leave a Reply