The Malaysian team needs a 'miracle' at My Dinh.

Malaysian media acknowledge that the team is up against a formidable task following a 0-2 defeat to Vietnam in the opening leg of the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 semi-finals. Meanwhile, interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe's furious response to his players has become a trending topic on social media.

After the 0-2 loss to Vietnam at the Kuala Lumpur stadium, Astro Arena believes that the Malaysian team now not only needs the support of the "12th man" but may also have to rely on a "miracle" when they travel to Hanoi for the second leg of the semi-final.

The Malaysian newspaper questions whether the 2014 scenario, when the national team secured a victory in Hanoi, can be repeated. However, this task is seen as especially challenging since Malaysia must overcome a two-goal deficit against the defending champions Vietnam.

In the first leg, Nguyen Xuan Son opened the scoring for Vietnam with a header just before halftime, before Faris Danish scored an own goal late in the match, helping Kim Sang Sik's side win 2-0.

Astro Arena highlights that the Malaysian team faced numerous disadvantages before the tournament. Interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe had only about 10 days to prepare, struggled to get clubs to release players, and suffered a series of injuries. Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal, Aliff Haiqal Lau, Jimmy Raymond, Engku Nuk Shakir, Fazrul Amir, and Endrick Dos Santos were all unavailable.

Nevertheless, Malaysian media see a positive aspect: the squad includes many young players who managed to create a competitive match against Vietnam, a team that had nearly two weeks of training in Incheon, South Korea.

Names like Daryl Sham George, G. Pavithran, Muhammad Alif Ahmad, and Faris Danish are considered to have shown promise. Pavithran, in particular, impressed with his speed and energy on the wing.

However, the biggest issue for the Malaysian team is their lack of sharpness in front of goal. Astro Arena argues that Malaysia had periods of pressure but failed to convert chances into goals, while Vietnam made better use of decisive moments.

After this defeat, Tan Cheng Hoe's angry reaction became a hot topic on Malaysian social media. The coach was caught on camera showing frustration, repeatedly reacting to certain players during the match.

The pressure on Tan Cheng Hoe is even greater because the Malaysian team must win by at least two goals in Hanoi to have any hope of leveling the tie.

Astro Arena therefore describes the upcoming away trip as a "daunting task," while questioning whether the Malaysian team can stage a comeback or if their winless streak in Hanoi will continue.

Regardless of the result of the second leg, Malaysian media believe that the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 still provides valuable experience for the young generation of players. But for now, the Malaysian team must face reality: to reach the final, they need a special comeback against Vietnam.