Wasting chances leads to defeat against Vietnam: Malaysia coach
By Lam Thoa
Coach Tan Cheng Hoe said Malaysia gave the game away when they wasted many chances in the defeat against Vietnam on Friday night.
Coach Tan Cheng Hoe speaks after the World Cup qualifying game between Malaysia and Vietnam, June 11, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Lam Thoa.
"My players have tried so hard but I have to say that we were not lucky today. We have had really great chances in between the goals of Vietnam, but we could convert only one. That’s quite unfortunate," Tan said in the post-match interview.
Malaysia conceded first in the 27th minute, but they finally equalized from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute after many chances. Two teams made substitutions to seek another goal, but only Vietnam succeeded, with a penalty in the 82nd minute. The game ended with a 2-1 victory for the Golden Dragons.
Vietnam keeper Bui Tan Truong is one of the reasons that Malaysia couldn’t score more than one goal. First he blocked a close-range header and after that he saved a dangerous freekick. Those were among the clearest chances of Malaysia in this game.
"We acknowledged that this is not an easy game and I’m happy with the performance of the team. I couldn’t take a look at Vietnam’s penalty because everything happened so fast, so I won’t comment on that. But that penalty was a sad moment for us in the game," Tan added.
With the loss against Vietnam, Malaysia have little to no chance to advance as they were dropped to fourth of Group 5.
"Malaysia’s chance of advancing is too small, so our priority now is winning the last game and a slot in the Asian Cup qualifiers," Tan said.
In the World Cup qualifiers, the third-placed team in each group will get a direct ticket to Asian Cup qualifying third round.