PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will treat their FIFA Asean Cup third-place playoff against Vietnam like a final, says defender Daniel Ting (pic).
The 33-year-old, who plays for Thai club Ratchaburi, made his first start of the tournament in the 6-0 win over Singapore in the final Group A match at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung on Thursday.
Deployed at leftback, he impressed with his defensive work and well-timed overlaps down the flank.
Missing the final would be painful for any player, but Daniel said Malaysia would approach the clash with the Golden Dragons at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta tomorrow (5pm, Malaysian time) with the same intensity because of the rivalry and the ranking points at stake.
A win could lift Malaysia from their current 136th spot in the FIFA rankings and provide much-needed momentum ahead of future friendlies.
“Naturally, we will treat the game against Vietnam as if it were a final.
“They are a strong team and have shown that in previous games.
“However, I’m confident that if we can match them physically, we have more than enough quality to win the game,” said Daniel, born in Chester, England to a Malaysian Chinese father from Sarawak and an English mother.
“I think we just need to focus on ourselves and maintain our performance, more so than worrying about their players.”
Indonesia, who beat Bangladesh 9-2 at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, and pipped Malaysia to the final on goal difference, will face Group B winners Thailand in the final in Jakarta tomorrow at 9pm.
The match against Singapore was Daniel’s first appearance for Malaysia in 2026.
“We did not reach the final, but there were lots of positives to take for the team,” said Daniel, who has 20 caps.
“Personally, I’m satisfied with my performance, but I still feel I can give more given the chance.
Daniel has improved considerably since moving to Thailand, where he has played in the top flight and in the AFC Champions League Two.
He has featured regularly as a centreback for Ratchaburi, underlining his versatility, and spoke warmly of the club.
“Ratchaburi has been a blessing for me as it has given me the opportunity to experience another country and culture, as well as the top level of Asian competition in the Champions League.”
