Kuala Lumpur, 16 August 2026 – Vietnam head coach Kim Sang-sik praised his players for their commitment and determination after securing an important 2-0 away victory over Malaysia in the first leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinals on August 16.
The victory at Kuala Lumpur Stadium gives Vietnam a significant advantage heading into the return leg, with Kim’s side now in a strong position to secure a place in the final.
Speaking after the match, the South Korean coach expressed his satisfaction with the result while crediting his players and the Vietnamese supporters who traveled to Malaysia.
“This was a very difficult away match, but I am very happy that the team secured a 2-0 victory. This result came from the players’ tremendous effort and wholehearted commitment, and I would like to congratulate them and express my sincere thanks. There were also many Vietnamese supporters who made the long journey to the stadium and passionately cheered for the national team today. I sincerely thank every one of them.”
Despite the convincing scoreline, Kim acknowledged that Vietnam encountered several difficulties during the match, particularly when attempting to adapt to the playing surface in Kuala Lumpur.
The conditions affected Vietnam’s ability to execute their game plan smoothly, while the coaching staff also identified several tactical areas that require improvement before the second leg.
“Although we won 2-0, overall the team faced quite a few difficulties adapting to the condition of the pitch, and there were also some aspects of our tactics that did not work as smoothly as we wanted. We will analyze these areas carefully so that we can prepare better for the next match.”
Kim also addressed his reaction to several refereeing decisions during the game, particularly a lengthy VAR review.
The Vietnam coach clarified that he had no personal frustration with the match officials. Instead, his reaction came from concern over the amount of time required for the VAR process, which disrupted the flow of the contest.
“I have absolutely no personal frustration with the referee. It was simply that the VAR review took too long, which interrupted the rhythm of the match, so I became a little impatient. Apart from that, everything was fine.”
With a two-goal advantage, Vietnam will now turn their attention to completing the job on home soil.
The second leg between Vietnam and Malaysia will take place on August 19, with Kim Sang-sik’s side looking to protect their advantage and secure a place in the ASEAN Cup 2026 final.
VSN/RPT
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