KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s hope of booking an early semifinal ticket suffered a setback when they were beaten 3-0 by Vietnam in their 2020 AFF Cup Group B match at Bishan Stadium in Singapore.
Malaysia were punished for failing to adapt quickly to the high-intensity match as Vietnam scored twice in a space of four minutes in the first half before sealing the game with a third goal in the dying minutes of the match.
The result also ended Harimau Malaya’s unbeaten run in the group, following wins over Cambodia and Laos.
Defeat to the defending champions dropped Malaysia to third in the group, behind leaders Indonesia and Vietnam, denting the chances of Tan Cheng Hoe’s squad of reaching the semifinals.
It is also Malaysia’s sixth defeat in their last seven clashes with Vietnam, and Cheng Hoe’s fifth against the Golden Dragon since taking charge of the national team in 2017.