BANGKOK: The national Under-23 football team had gone into the match needing a draw. They walked out needing a huge favour.
The team fell 0-2 to a clinical Vietnam side in their final Group B match and their semi-final hopes now hang on the Myanmar-Indonesia Group C clash today.
If Indonesia win by more than two goals, they can pip Malaysia to the final slot for the best second-placed team.
Coach Nafuzi Zain admitted his side were second-best in a first half that saw Vietnam strike twice within 22 minutes at the Rajamangala Stadium.
“The first half wasn’t great because we didn’t have much aggression in our game.
‘‘We allowed our opponents too much spaces. Against a side like Vietnam, you’re waiting to be punished,” he said.
Nguyen Hieu Minh pounced on a poor defensive clearance in the 11th minute to open the scoring before Pham Minh Phuc finished off a swift counterattack 11 minutes later.
Malaysia improved their tempo and pressed higher in the second half, but Vietnam’s discipline and composure kept them at bay.
With three points, a plus-one goal difference and four goals scored, Malaysia sit second in Group B.
Indonesia, with no points and a minus one goal difference must beat Myanmar by more than two goals to overtake Malaysia.
For now, Malaysia can only hope.
