ASEAN Cup 2026: ESPN rates Xuan Son as a special pillar of the Vietnam national team

According to a VNA correspondent in Southeast Asia, sports channel ESPN reported that before the match, Vietnam was rated higher in terms of squad strength as they entered the semifinals as defending champions. Meanwhile, Malaysia fielded a relatively inexperienced lineup, with only four players having more than 20 caps at the start of the tournament. However, the action on the pitch showed that Malaysia was not easily subdued. The hosts started with determination, played strongly, and created many difficulties for Vietnam's defense. Malaysia had a chance to take the lead in the 35th minute when Paulo Josue shot from close range, but goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang made an excellent save. Just two minutes later, Daryl also found himself in a good position after G. Pavithran's cross, but hesitation caused the opportunity to slip away.

Just when Malaysia was building positive momentum, Xuan Son suddenly made the difference. In the 45+5th minute, Truong Tien Anh broke down the right flank and delivered a precise cross. Xuan Son positioned himself well, leaped high to head the ball cleverly into the Malaysian net, giving Vietnam the lead going into halftime.

This was only the third goal of the 29-year-old striker at the ASEAN Championship 2026, but it once again demonstrated his ability to make a difference in important matches.

Since donning the Vietnam national team shirt in 2024, Xuan Son has scored 14 goals in 14 international matches. At the ASEAN Championship 2024, he scored 8 goals, winning both the Golden Boot and the Best Player of the tournament. A broken leg suffered in the second leg of the 2024 final forced him to undergo a long recovery period. However, after returning, the striker has maintained his ability to leave his mark in big matches.

ESPN also noted that Vietnam is no longer entirely dependent on Xuan Son's goals. Coach Kim Sang Sik once rested the striker in the group stage, yet Vietnam still defeated Indonesia 3-0. Xuan Son later came off the bench and scored the goal that sealed the victory.

Nevertheless, when the match enters decisive moments, Xuan Son remains one of the most important pillars of Vietnam's attack. His value goes beyond just scoring goals. Xuan Son's physique, strength, and ability to hold up the ball give Vietnam a stable target up front, while also creating more space for players like Nguyen Hoang Duc or Nguyen Dinh Bac to utilize their creativity and speed.

In the match against Malaysia, Xuan Son constantly faced off against the home team's center-backs. Rodney Celvin played only 16 minutes before leaving the field due to injury, forcing Aysar Hadi to come on and immediately face pressure from Vietnam's attack.

On the other side of the pitch, goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang also experienced a notable incident. About one minute after the hour mark, he was shown a straight red card after a collision with Mohamadou Sumareh. However, after VAR intervened, the decision was reversed and the red card was rescinded.

While Malaysia still hoped to reduce the deficit, Vietnam delivered the decisive blow in the 84th minute. Nguyen Quang Hai turned cleverly near the edge of the box and passed the ball into a dangerous area. In an attempt to block, Faris Danish inadvertently directed the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper Azri Ghani, helping Vietnam extend the lead to 2-0.

Malaysia put in a valiant effort, but losing by a two-goal margin at home leaves them with a very difficult task in the second leg at My Dinh.

For Vietnam, the 2-0 victory gives them a significant advantage ahead of the second leg. And Xuan Son once again demonstrated his special role, knowing how to appear at the right moment to create a turning point for the team.