Tan Says Malaysia Have Nothing to Lose Against Vietnam

Malaysia will enter their ASEAN Hyundai Cup™ 2026 semi-final against defending champions Vietnam with confidence after interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe insisted his side have “nothing to lose.”

Malaysia secured second place in Group B with nine points after Pavithran Gunalan’s first-half header earned them a crucial victory over the Philippines on Saturday. The result sent the team into the semi-finals for only the second time since 2018.

Tan praised his players for maintaining their concentration throughout a difficult contest and stressed the importance of recovering quickly before the next challenge.

Vietnam now stand between Malaysia and a place in the final. The first leg will take place at Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium on August 16, with the defending champions arriving in impressive form.

Kim Sang-sik’s Vietnam scored 13 goals across their four group matches, the highest total in the tournament, while conceding just once, making them a formidable opponent for Malaysia.