Nguyen Xuan Son, who scored two goals in Vietnam's 3-1 victory over Malaysia in March during the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, is now set to face them again. That previous win at Thien Truong Stadium, Ninh Binh, saw Son eager for revenge, having missed the first leg's 0-4 loss at Bukit Jalil Stadium due to injury.

Ahead of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semi-final first leg, Xuan Son dismissed suggestions from Malaysian media that he needed to prove himself in his first away game against Malaysia. "I don't need to prove anything in this match", the Brazilian-born forward stated. "My focus is solely on doing my job well in this significant game. The most important thing is to perform strongly to secure a win for Vietnam. We have trained and prepared for this moment".

Vietnamese forward of Brazilian origin Nguyen Xuan Son attends a press conference at Kuala Lumpur Stadium, Malaysia, on 15/8/2026, before Vietnam's match against Malaysia in the first leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semi-finals. Photo: Duc Dong

The 29-year-old acknowledged Malaysia's different squad for the ASEAN Cup 2026. Though labeled a "C team", Son recognizes their roster includes many skilled players. However, Malaysia is currently grappling with a squad crisis due to injuries, notably affecting Brazilian-born naturalized midfielder Endrick, a friend of Xuan Son and former Cong an TP HCM player.

Despite identifying Malaysia's strengths from video analysis, Son emphasized Vietnam's internal focus. "We know Malaysia has good players, but we don't need to worry too much about them", Son said. "Our concentration is on our own preparation, covering everything from nutrition and rest to recovery. I am confident that with structured training and adherence to our plans, things will go smoothly".

While Xuan Son was the top scorer at the ASEAN Cup 2024 with 7 goals, his contribution in this tournament stands at two goals, not yet showcasing his full anticipated strength. Nevertheless, the 1997-born forward remains prepared for pressure and eager for the upcoming match.

Son identified the Kuala Lumpur Stadium pitch as the biggest challenge, noting its use of large, stiff ginger grass instead of the more common needle-leaf variety. "I don't like this pitch", Son admitted. "I've played on this surface in Vietnam before and found it difficult. It's 2026, and I prefer needle-leaf grass. However, tomorrow, I will put aside all difficulties to perform at my best".

Duc Dong - Hieu Luong