PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian football team face an uphill task to overcome a two-goal deficit against Vietnam in their Hyundai AFF Cup semi-finals in Hanoi on Wednesday (Aug 19) but they won't be short of inspiration.
Interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe has urged his players to remember the Malaysian side who reached the final in 2014 as a good example.
The Harimau Malaya, then under Dollah Salleh, managed to overturn a first-leg deficit to edge Vietnam 5-4 on aggregate in the semi-finals. In the final, they were narrowly beaten 4-3 on aggregate against Thailand.
"We should look back to 2014 and remember how the team under Dollah overcame a tough situation. They were down 1-2 against Vietnam but bounced back to beat them 4-2 in Hanoi," said Cheng Hoe.
"After 12 years, the coaches and players have changed but we can still use that as motivation.
"That gives me hope that we can do it again but all of us will have to fight together."
Malaysia trail Vietnam 0-2 after losing the first leg semi-finals at home on Sunday (Aug 16).
Cheng Hoe said his charges will have to enter the game with unwavering self-belief despite Vietnam's home ground advantage.
"We have to enter the field believing we can change the result. Vietnam have a great track record under (Kim) Sang-sik, as they are unbeaten in 23 games.
"But those statistics and records should not intimidate us – instead it should motivate us to do something unexpected.
Centreback Aysar Hadi Sapri echoed his coach’s optimism.
"Only our best will do, and we will make sure to deliver that," he said.
