Kuala Lumpur, 10 June, 2025 – Following Malaysia’s stunning 4-0 win over Vietnam in the second round of Group F at the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, head coach Peter Cklamovski praised his players for their hunger, discipline, and physical preparation—key factors behind what is now Malaysia’s biggest-ever win against Vietnam.
“We should have been ahead in the first half,” said Cklamovski during the post-match press conference at Bukit Jalil Stadium on the night of June 10. “But in the second half, our focus, discipline, and hard work paid off.”
At halftime, the Australian coach showed his players a short video highlighting specific spaces in Vietnam’s defense that Malaysia could exploit. “We talked about scoring one, then two, and then three. In the end, it was four,” Cklamovski revealed.
Malaysia’s dominant performance is the product of a detailed training plan that began with the squad’s gathering on May 19. The team went through three structured phases, and in the final stage, they integrated several high-quality players of mixed heritage currently playing in Europe and South America. This injection of talent significantly raised the team’s overall quality.
“Before the match, many doubted that we could outrun Vietnam. But our players maintained a higher intensity across all 97 minutes,” said the 1978-born coach. “The second key element was discipline—maintaining shape in both attack and defense. This win is the reward for that collective effort.”
The result ended an 11-year winless streak for Malaysia against Vietnam and marked a historic moment for the national team. It also boosted their chances of qualifying directly for the 2027 Asian Cup. With two wins from two games, Malaysia now sits atop Group F with six points and a +6 goal difference.
Given current form, both Malaysia and Vietnam are expected to win their remaining matches against Laos and Nepal. This sets up a decisive rematch in Vietnam in March 2026. However, due to head-to-head tiebreak rules, Vietnam must beat Malaysia by at least five goals to overtake them. A four-goal margin would trigger further criteria: total goal difference, goals scored, fair play points, and potentially a drawing of lots.
Looking ahead, Malaysia will continue their preparations with friendly matches during the September international window, followed by official qualifiers against Laos and Nepal in November.
Beyond qualification, Cklamovski sees the emphatic win over Vietnam as a symbolic moment for Malaysian football. “More than 61,000 fans came to Bukit Jalil tonight and witnessed exciting, promising football. I’m tired of the constant complaints about Malaysian football,” he said. “I hope this victory inspires unity and pride across the football community. We’ve shown what we’re capable of.”
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