Vietnam and Malaysia are set to clash for the top position in Group B of the SEA Games 33 men's football tournament at Rajamangala Stadium on the afternoon of 11/12. Both teams have three points after their opening matches, with Malaysia holding a higher rank due to a superior goal difference (+3 compared to +1). A draw would see both teams progress to the semifinals, while Indonesia in Group C would be eliminated.

Striker Nguyen Le Phat. Photo: VFF

Malaysia approaches the match with a nearly full-strength squad, as center-back Ubaidullah Shamsul, defender Aiman Yusuf, and striker Aliff Izwan have been released by their respective clubs. However, they will be without Haqimi Azim, who returned home to mourn his stepfather. Their 4-1 victory over Laos has boosted coach Nafizi Zain's squad's confidence, yet their primary objective remains to avoid defeat to ensure their own path to the next round.

For Vietnam, coach Kim Sang-sik has his complete 23-player squad available and emphasizes an offensive approach, ruling out playing for a draw. Following their 2-1 victory against Laos, he urged his players to treat the Malaysia match as a knockout fixture. Vietnam boasts a strong historical record against Malaysia over the past 15 years, securing multiple victories in recent SEA Games editions.

Securing three points against Malaysia would allow Vietnam to advance to the semifinals as group leaders, setting up a match against Philippines. Conversely, if Kim's team draws with Malaysia, they would face Thailand.

Quang Dung - Hoang An