Waiting for the Vietnamese team to break the curse at the 'fire pan', gain an advantage over Malaysia

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) emphasized: “The Malaysian team will return to their fortress, playing against the Vietnamese team at their home stadium Bukit Jalil. This promises to be a very exciting match. Malaysian fans should turn this stadium into a sea of ​​people in black and yellow.” Accordingly, the match between Malaysia and the Vietnamese team, in the second round of Group F - the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup, will take place on June 10. This encounter is very important, as the two teams are direct competitors for a ticket to the final round of the continental tournament (only for the group winner).

Bukit Jalil is the largest stadium in Southeast Asia, with a capacity of about 85,000 people. Playing at a full Bukit Jalil stadium, the away teams will be under great psychological pressure. On the other hand, the Malaysian players are mentally stimulated. FAM CEO Rob Friend shared: “This is not just a qualifying match, but a time for Malaysians to stand behind the national team and show national unity. We are trying to create something meaningful. So we want to see our fans at Bukit Jalil.”

Vietnam have yet to beat Malaysia at Bukit Jalil but this time will be different.

The “Fire Pan” Bukit Jalil will be a big challenge for the Vietnamese team to overcome. Since 2010, the Vietnamese team has not been able to win against Malaysia at Bukit Jalil. In 2010, the Vietnamese team (then the defending champion, AFF Cup 2008) stopped at the semi-finals of the AFF Cup 2010, after losing 0-2 to Malaysia at Bukit Jalil in the first leg (and then drawing 0-0 in the second leg).

Vietnam team has a chance to defeat Malaysia for the first time at the "fire pit" Bukit Jalil

PHOTO: NGOC LINH

In 2018, the Vietnamese team under coach Park Hang-seo drew 2-2 with Malaysia in the first leg of the 2018 AFF Cup final at Bukit Jalil Stadium. Notably, in this match, the Vietnamese team took a 2-goal lead thanks to goals from Nguyen Huy Hung and Pham Duc Huy but still could not win the match. However, in the second leg of the final, the Vietnamese team won 1-0 thanks to the only goal from Nguyen Anh Duc and was crowned the 2018 AFF Cup champion.

In recent years, the Malaysian team has been considered inferior to Vietnam. However, FAM is currently showing its determination to regain its image, through strengthening the team nicknamed "the Tigers". Many foreign players have been naturalized to play for the Malaysian team. Therefore, the Vietnamese team is expected to face many difficulties when facing Malaysia at the "fire pit" Bukit Jalil on June 10. However, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team are still expected to break the curse at the stadium with a capacity of more than 85,000, and at the same time gain an advantage over Malaysia in the race for a ticket to the final round of the 2027 Asian Cup.

After the first round of matches, the Vietnamese team is leading Group F with 3 points and a goal difference of +5. In the opening match at Binh Duong Stadium in March, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team won 5-0 against Laos. Meanwhile, Malaysia is second in Group F with 3 points and a goal difference of +2 (winning 2-0 against Nepal in the opening match).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cho-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-pha-dop-tai-chao-lua-gianh-loi-the-truoc-malaysia-185250422151257793.htm