Vietnam secured a 2-0 victory over Malaysia in the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup semifinal, according to vavel.com. The result eliminated Malaysia from the tournament.
The match was part of the regional championship, with Vietnam advancing past Malaysia on the back of the win. The report from vavel.com confirms the final scoreline and the outcome for both sides.
Malaysia entered the contest with hopes of extending their run, but the defeat brought their campaign to a close. According to ESPN, Rafaelson delivered the decisive blow for Vietnam, sealing Malaysia's exit from the competition. ESPN also noted that Malaysia's coach Paulo Josué expressed pride in his young squad despite the disappointment of being knocked out.
Ahead of the match, ASEAN United FC reported that Malaysia had looked to past performances for inspiration. That preparation, however, was not enough to overcome Vietnam on the day.
In a separate development, VnExpress International reported that no Malaysian media representatives attended the team's press conference prior to the semifinal. The absence of local press coverage added a notable backdrop to the fixture.
Vietnam now moves on in the ASEAN Hyundai Cup, while Malaysia returns home with their tournament run over. The focus for Vietnam shifts to the next stage of the competition, where they will aim to build on this semifinal win and push toward the final.
