Viet Nam are looking to join regional power-house Thailand as the only nation to win both premier Southeast Asian football titles when they take on Malaysia in the final . . .

But they have never won the SEA Games competition — which is for U-23 teams since 2001 — despite entering the final four times (1995, 1999, 2003, and 2005). They lost to the Thais on every occasion.

They probably have their best chance this year since their nemesis Thailand were sent packing out of the tournament by Malaysia.

In the last group A match, Malaysia came from nowhere to beat Thailand 2-1 to qualify for the semi-final where they overcame Laos, who were themselves making history with their maiden entry into the last four.

Viet Nam beat Malaysia 3-1 in the group stage but the final promises to be a tight affair now that the two teams know each other well.

Quality side

Viet Nam have quality both in defence and attack, scoring 18 goals in five matches and conceding only two.

As many as eight players scored those goals, including defenders, with midfielder Mai Tien Thanh topping with five.

The midfield led by proficient skipper Pham Thanh Luong has provided solid service to the strikers while Mai Xuan Hop, Nguyen Thanh Long Giang and brilliant goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong have been bulwarks at the back.

However, coach Henry Calisto was giving nothing away before the match: “Beating them is a very difficult task but beating them again is even more difficult.”

Malaysia will be determined not to let their best chance to win the biennial tournament in two decades slip.

The last time they lifted the trophy was in 1989 in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia have some good players like strikers Norsharul Idlan Talah, Ahmad Fakri Saarani and Abdul Manaf Mamat, who have all been firing in this tournament.

Top striker Mohd Zaquan Adha Abdul Razak, who had to return home last Thursday with an eye infection, is back and will start the final.

Coach K. Rajagopal said it is good to have Razak back and hoped that the latest chapter in Malaysian football’s revival would not turn out to be another false dawn.

But clearly Viet Nam will have a huge advantage over Malaysia in terms of supporters, who will virtually be a 12th player for them.

It is only a few hours’ travel from Viet Nam to the Lao capital Vientiane and the country boasts the most passionate football fans in the region.

The Main Stadium at the National Sports Complex will be a sea of red come match day and the Vietnamese fans can be expected to bring the roof down with their din.

The football gold medal, though just another gold in the medals tally, is arguably the most coveted at these games.

The medal will find a new home after remaining in Bangkok for the last 16 years.

The final kicks off at 5pm today will be broadcast on many channels VTV1, VTV2 and VTC3.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News