SEA Games 33 Football: Vietnam U23 2-0 Malaysia U23: Top spot in the semi-finals.

STARTING LINEUP
Vietnam U.23: Trung Kien; Nhat Minh, Hieu Minh, Ly Duc, Van Khang (C), Quoc Cuong, Thai Son, Phi Hoang, Minh Phuc, Dinh Bac, Viktor Le

U.23 Malaysia: Sharani Zulhilmi; Shamsul Fazili (C), Ahmad Alif, Mohamad Shafizan, Sahaludin Hakimi, Abu Khalil, Daud Abdul Rahman; Yulsan Izwan, Norhisham Ziad El Basheer, Muhammad Aiman Yusuf, Michel Dass Moses Raj
0'
Vietnam's U23 team has won every match against Malaysia's U23 team in all competitions since 2015. This includes three victories at the 2015 SEA Games (5-1), 2022 (1-0), and 2023 (2-1), as well as wins in the 2016 U23 Asian Championship qualifiers (2-1) and the 2023 U23 Southeast Asian Championship (4-1). The last time Malaysia's U23 team advanced beyond the group stage of the SEA Games was in 2022, where they lost to Vietnam in the semi-finals and to Indonesia in the bronze medal match.
0'
Vietnam U23 is warming up.
PHOTO: NHAT THINH
1'
FIRST HALF BEGINS!
Vietnam U.23 will kick off first.
6'
Don't go in.
From a move initiated on the left wing by Phi Hoang, the ball was passed into the penalty area for Quoc Cuong. The central midfielder of the Vietnam U23 team dribbled the ball and then took a left-footed shot from a tight angle. The ball was on target, but not difficult enough to beat goalkeeper Sharani. The left wing is currently the main attacking direction for the Vietnam U23 team.
11'
GOAL!
GOAL! 1-0 for Vietnam U23. Vietnam U23 had a precise cross from the left wing. Dinh Bac delivered a perfect cross from the right wing into the penalty area, allowing center-back Hieu Minh to leap high and head the ball into the net, giving coach Kim Sang-sik's team the lead.

PHOTO: NHAT THINH
15'
Vietnam U23 is still maintaining a relentless attacking style, with high-pressure pressing forcing Malaysia U23 to retreat into defensive positions. Coach Kim's team wants to score more goals, as a one-goal lead is not yet safe enough.
17'
DANGER!
Malaysia U23 had the most significant counter-attack of the match so far. Receiving a through pass with the outside of his foot from a teammate, Hakimi raced down to face goalkeeper Trung Kien. However, the 1.91m tall goalkeeper of Vietnam U23 rushed out faster to avert the danger.
22'
GOAL!
GOAL! 2-0 for Vietnam U23. Vietnam U23 easily scored against Malaysia U23 with a well-executed combination down the left wing. Dinh Bac broke through and crossed the ball into the box, allowing Minh Phuc to accurately follow up with a shot, increasing the score to 2-0. Vietnam U23 is completely dominating, giving their opponents no chance to retaliate.
28'
Vietnam U23 reduced the intensity of their pressure, but still maintained a balanced and stable game, preventing Malaysia U23 from having a chance to fight back.
35'
IMPOSSIBLE!
Ly Duc delivered a precise long pass from his own half, allowing Le Viktor to break the offside trap. Despite the unfavorable shooting angle, Le Viktor still managed a beautiful one-touch volley, forcing the U.23 Malaysia goalkeeper to make a full-stretch save.
44 '
DO NOT ENTER!
The Vietnam U23 defense continued to launch impressive attacks. Hieu Minh launched a long ball to organize an attack down the right wing, but when the ball reached Dinh Bac, the 21-year-old striker chose to dribble inside to shoot. The Malaysia U23 team made a successful block.
45'
The first half has 2 minutes of injury time.
45 +2'
END OF FIRST HALF!
Vietnam U23 is currently leading Malaysia 2-0.
46'
SECOND HALF BEGINS!
Malaysia U23 needs two goals to reach the semi-finals. Coach Nafuzi Zain faces a huge challenge ahead.
50'
Within four minutes, the Vietnam U23 team received two yellow cards. Thai Son and Van Khang were cautioned for rough tackles against their opponents.
52'
Vietnam U23 is still maintaining a good defensive and offensive game. Malaysia U23, despite having slightly more possession, has yet to create any opportunities. The "Malaysian Tigers'" attacks down the flanks are easily anticipated.
67
DANGER!
Vietnam U23 launched a quality counter-attack. Van Khang received a long pass from his teammate, then laid it off to Le Viktor, who took a shot from the edge of the penalty area. The ball deflected off a Malaysian defender's leg and went wide of the goal.
68'
Vietnam U.23 makes a substitution.
With a relatively safe lead, coach Kim Sang-sik decided to give opportunities to the reserve players. Xuan Bac, Van Thuan, and Cong Phuong came on, replacing Thai Son, Le Viktor, and Van Khang. Because Van Khang left the field, the captain's armband was passed to Dinh Bac (who previously held the vice-captaincy).
75'
U23 Malaysia did everything they could, but their poor attacking play made it difficult for Coach Zain's players to get close to goalkeeper Trung Kien's goal. Conversely, U23 Vietnam played comfortably, but thanks to their tight and well-organized defense, the red-shirted team still controlled the match.
80'
Vietnam U23 makes a substitution!
Hero Dinh Bac left the field to make way for Ngoc My. Dinh Bac had a great game with two assists, helping Vietnam U23 take a 2-0 lead. Dinh Bac was involved in all four of Vietnam U23's goals in the group stage of the SEA Games 33.
83'
IMPOSSIBLE!
Receiving a cross from the left wing from his teammate, Mohd Danish rose high to head the ball, but it landed safely in the hands of goalkeeper Trung Kien. This was a rare instance in the second half where Trung Kien was involved in a play.
89
Assistant coach Lee Jung-soo, working under head coach Kim Sang-sik, received a yellow card for reacting angrily to the referee. Lee stepped to the sidelines to protest strongly after Ngoc My was fouled. This brings the total number of yellow cards received by the Vietnam U23 coaching staff in two matches to two.
90 '
The second half has 4 minutes of injury time.
90 +4'
THE MATCH IS OVER!
The Vietnam U23 team defeated Malaysia U23 20-0. Vietnam U23 advanced to the semi-finals as the top team in Group B. Coach Kim Sang-sik's players won both matches against Laos U23 and Malaysia U23.

Vietnam U.23 fielded their strongest lineup.

At 4 PM today (December 11th), the Vietnam U23 team will face Malaysia U23 in a crucial match to secure a place in the semi-finals of the men's football tournament at the 33rd SEA Games.

Given that the second-placed teams in Groups A and C can only have a maximum of 3 points, Vietnam U23 will qualify for the next round if they manage at least a draw against Malaysia U23. In that case, Coach Kim Sang-sik's team would have 4 points, securing a place in the semi-finals as the best second-placed team.

Vietnam U23 (in white jerseys) are ready for the decisive match.

PHOTO: DONG NGUYEN KHANG

However, coach Kim Sang-sik declared that the goal of the Vietnam U23 team is to win the match to secure the top spot in the group. Therefore, the South Korean coach used his strongest lineup, promising to impose his game plan against Malaysia U23.

Standing in goal is goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien, the reliable 1.91m tall custodian who has been the starting goalkeeper for the Vietnam U23 team since July. The three central defenders are Nguyen Hieu Minh, Nguyen Nhat Minh, and Pham Ly Duc. On the flanks, coach Kim Sang-sik trusts Nguyen Phi Hoang (left) and Pham Minh Phuc (right).

In midfield, the two playmaking center-backs are Nguyen Thai Son and Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong. Up front, the attacking trident that helps Vietnam U23 find goals consists of Khuat Van Khang (captain), Nguyen Dinh Bac, and Le Viktor.

Determined to get 3 points

Vietnam U23 has defeated Malaysia U23 in both of the last two SEA Games.

In 2022, Nguyen Tien Linh's only goal in extra time helped Vietnam U23 win dramatically 1-0 to reach the final. In 2023, the young team, then coached by Philippe Troussier, also beat Malaysia U23 by one goal (2-1) to officially advance from the group stage.

Despite a dominant head-to-head record, Vietnam U23's victories against Malaysia U23 have usually been by small margins. There are two exceptions: in the semi-finals of the 2023 Southeast Asian U23 Championship (4-1 win) and the group stage of the 2015 SEA Games (5-1 win), where Vietnam U23 literally crushed the "Malaysian Tigers".

"The U23 Malaysia team is physically strong and plays a powerful attacking style. However, we have prepared thoroughly both physically and tactically. Through professional meetings and the players' diligent training, we are confident that we will achieve our goals."

"I always remind the players that this match is like a knockout round. Winning is a mandatory goal for the Vietnam U23 team," coach Kim Sang-sik assessed.

Vietnam U23 has prepared thoroughly.

PHOTO: DONG NGUYEN KHANG

Ahead of their crucial match against Vietnam U23, Malaysia U23 received good news. Captain and defender Ubaidullah Shamsul and goalkeeper Haziq Mukhriz arrived in time to join the team on December 7th.

Coach Nafuzi Zain also welcomed Aliff Izwan Yuslan, a player who had just flown from Selangor FC to Thailand to join the training camp.

"The Tigers" are always an unpredictable team, forcing the Vietnam U23 team to keep a cool head. Playing cautiously for a draw, or fighting back to secure a victory – both options carry significant risks for coach Kim Sang-sik.

But to overcome the obstacles, one must know how to conquer the difficult turns. At 4 PM this afternoon, let's see what the Vietnam U23 team can achieve.