JAKARTA, Oct 4 – Malaysia interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe wants the national team to end their long-standing winless run against Vietnam when the two sides meet in the FIFA ASEAN Cup third-place playoff match at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium in Jakarta on Monday, October 5, 2026.

Cheng Hoe is determined to secure a positive result this time, having failed to defeat Vietnam for over a decade.

Malaysia last defeated Vietnam in 2014, when former coach Dollah Salleh led the team to a 4-2 victory in the second leg of the AFF Cup semi-final, advancing to the final with a 5-4 aggregate score.

“Yes, I have a strong desire to beat Vietnam because we have not defeated them in the last 10 years,” Cheng Hoe told reporters in Jakarta on Sunday.

“We know their strength is not only in attack, as they have also added naturalised players to their defence. So, the most important thing is for us to remain focused and be prepared to face Vietnam,” he added.

Head-to-Head Record and Tournament Path

Since 2014, Malaysia has failed to defeat Vietnam in 12 consecutive encounters, recording 11 losses and one draw. In their most recent meeting in August, Vietnam defeated Malaysia 2-0 in the second leg of the ASEAN Championship semi-final, eliminating Harimau Malaya 4-0 on aggregate.

Key details regarding tomorrow’s match and tournament standings include:

Head-to-Head Streak: 12 matches without a win against Vietnam since December 2014 (11 losses, 1 draw).
Group Stage Finish: Malaysia qualified for the third-place playoff after finishing second in Group A with seven points, missing out on top spot to hosts Indonesia due to goal difference.
Final Matchup: Hosts Indonesia will face Thailand in the championship final at the same venue on Monday evening.

Tomorrow’s clash provides Malaysia with an opportunity to end a decade-long drought against their regional rivals and conclude their FIFA ASEAN Cup campaign on a high note.

–NMT

Tags: Asean Cup 2026 Harimau Malaya