Ninh Binh, 30 March 2026 – Doan Van Hau recalled his emotions after witnessing Vietnam’s 0–4 defeat to Malaysia in the first leg and expressed his strong desire for victory during the pre-match press conference ahead of the rematch at Thien Truong Stadium.
Van Hau recently made his return to the Vietnam national team after a long absence, playing 45 minutes in the 3–0 friendly win over Bangladesh on March 26. The defender was again selected by coach Kim Sang-sik to attend the press conference before Vietnam faces Malaysia in the final round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification.
In the first-leg clash on June 10, 2025, Van Hau had not yet recovered from injury and watched Vietnam’s 0–4 loss to Malaysia on TV. Witnessing the heavy defeat at Bukit Jalil National Stadium was a painful experience for the 1999-born defender.
“I watched that match at home and felt very disappointed to see Vietnam lose. In football, nothing is certain—you can win or lose. In that match, Vietnam had to play away and faced huge pressure from the stands,” Van Hau shared.
Despite the 0–4 defeat, Vietnam was later awarded a 3–0 victory by the Asian Football Confederation after Malaysia violated regulations regarding naturalized players. Malaysia was also handed a 0–3 loss against Nepal for the same reason. This decision helped Vietnam secure early qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, making the upcoming rematch more procedural in nature.
However, according to Van Hau, Vietnam remains determined to win. He also called on fans to come to the stadium and create a fiery atmosphere to support the team at Thien Truong.
“Every match against Malaysia is a big game. Both teams are determined to win. Tomorrow’s match will be no different—it will be tight, and the team that makes fewer mistakes will come out on top,” he said.
“I will give my best when I step onto the pitch, follow the coach’s tactics, play with discipline, and aim for victory with the Vietnam national team,” Van Hau added, as he looks forward to potentially being selected by coach Kim Sang-sik for the clash at 19:00 on March 31.
Kim Tuyen
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