The door to the ASEAN Cup final is wide open for the Vietnam national team.

Xuân Son continues to prove his knack against Malaysia, Tiến Anh remains the "crossing machine", and Quang Hải made an impact just minutes after coming on. The 2-0 away victory gives Vietnam a huge advantage ahead of the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semi-final at Mỹ Đình on August 19, while also opening up the prospect of a rematch with Thailand in the final, as two years ago.

The Vietnam national team entered the first leg of the semi-final against Malaysia with a notable lineup adjustment, as Tài Lộc started in place of Hai Long and Hoàng Hên. Coach Kim Sang Sik continued to adopt a cautious approach, prioritizing defense and waiting for counter-attacking opportunities.

Malaysia started proactively, playing compactly and controlling more possession, trying to use short passes to stretch Vietnam's defense. However, that initiative did not translate into effectiveness. Malaysia held the ball but struggled to bring it into dangerous positions.

The ginger-grass pitch in Kuala Lumpur also significantly affected the quality of the match. Quick passes and one-touch combinations were often disrupted by the bounce and speed of the surface. In that context, Vietnam had even more reason to opt for a pragmatic style of play.

Malaysia also suffered a blow in the first half when center-back Rodney was injured and had to leave the pitch. But more importantly, Tan Cheng Hoe's team could not make a difference against Vietnam's defense.

And when Malaysia failed to capitalize on their possession advantage, Vietnam launched a counter-attack at the perfect moment. In the 45+5th minute, Tiến Anh produced a brilliant move on the right flank. After beating a Malaysian defender, he delivered a cross with perfect placement. Xuân Son immediately rushed in, launched himself, and headed the ball into the home team's net.

That goal fully demonstrated the qualities that Coach Kim Sang Sik requires in a counter-attacking team: the precision of the passer and the instinct of the main striker.

For Xuân Son, Malaysia continues to be an opponent that brings many emotions. In just the last two matches, this striker has scored three times against "The Tigers". That knack appeared again at the moment Vietnam needed it most.

In the second half, Malaysia pushed higher up the pitch. At times, Vietnam's defense came under significant pressure. In the 52nd minute, Sumareh broke down the wing and sent a dangerous cross, but Lê Giang Patrik rushed out in time. After that, the Vietnamese goalkeeper continued to have an outstanding match.

Most memorable was the incident in the 60th minute when Lê Giang was shown a red card after a foul on Sumareh outside the penalty area. However, after consulting VAR, the referee determined that Văn Vĩ had cleared the ball before the collision and overturned the red card for the Vietnamese goalkeeper.

This was clearly a fortunate moment, but it also showed that Vietnam had overcome the most dangerous period of the match. In the final 25 minutes, Coach Kim Sang Sik deliberately slowed the pace. Hoàng Hên was brought on to replace Tài Lộc to improve link-up play with Xuân Son. Then, Quang Hải and Hai Long came on for Xuân Son and Thành Long, respectively.

And just minutes after appearing, Quang Hải made his mark. In the 87th minute, the captain played a pass that created a dangerous situation. In an attempt to block, a Malaysian defender awkwardly turned the ball into his own net.

The 2-0 win for the away side contained both brilliance and a touch of luck, but it was fully deserved given how Vietnam capitalized on their chances. The visitors had less possession but created clearer danger and, most importantly, were more efficient.

This is quite similar to the other semi-final where Thailand beat Singapore. The team that controls more possession is not necessarily the one that creates more danger. In knockout matches, the ability to take chances is the crucial measure.

In particular, Malaysia's left flank became a major weakness. Danish Faris was repeatedly exploited, and both of Vietnam's goals came from attacks in that area. Tiến Anh had a standout performance, contributing both defensively and delivering the decisive cross for Xuân Son.

The 2-0 victory gives Vietnam an enormous advantage ahead of the second leg on August 19 at Mỹ Đình. The team's attack continues to maintain an impressive record with 14 goals, among the best in the tournament.

More importantly, Vietnam has every reason to be optimistic. The two-goal advantage, home ground, high morale, and head-to-head history all favor Kim Sang Sik's team. Malaysia has lost to Vietnam in six of their last seven matches under Coach Tan Cheng Hoe, and "The Tigers" have not beaten Vietnam since 2014.

If there is no major shock at Mỹ Đình, the final ticket is very close to Vietnam's hands. The scenario of a Vietnam-Thailand rematch in the ASEAN Cup final from two years ago becomes increasingly clear.