The Vietnamese players controlled match play in the first 15 minutes with crisp passing and quick attacks, putting constant pressure on the team they had just beaten at the Merdeka Cup in Kuala Lumpur two weeks ago.

However, the team’s momentum soon faltered as Indra Putra from the Malaysian squad drew first blood with a calculated strike through the heart of the defense in the 16th minute.

The early shock caused players to lose concentration, leading to a second goal by Mohd Amirulhadi Zainal for the opposition.

Vietnam then tried to rally with waves of attacks but failed to defend and was ambushed by a score by Malaysia’s Mohd Hardi Jaffer, closing out the loss.

“Our players are still inexperienced, but I am wholly responsible for this loss,” Vietnam’s coach Mai Duc Chung said at the press conference after the match.

Reported by Quang Tuyen