Malaysian media erupts as they face Vietnam again in the ASEAN Cup final

Malaysian press reacts fiercely after Vietnam overturns Australia 2-1, creating a fateful rematch in the U17 Southeast Asia final.

With Vietnam U17 brilliantly defeating Australia 2-1, Makanbola quickly updated information on the U17 Southeast Asia final. Earlier, Malaysia U17 officially secured their spot in the 2026 U17 Southeast Asia final after a convincing 3-0 semifinal win over Laos. Goals from Yusof Nasrullah, Aniq Thaqif, and an own goal helped the young Malaysian team move closer to the regional title.

This victory not only holds significance in terms of the result but also marks a major step forward for Malaysian youth football after a 7-year wait to return to the final match. Notably, the country's media emphasized that their opponent in the final will be Vietnam U17 – the team that just defeated Australia 2-1 to create an eagerly awaited rematch.

In the other semifinal, Vietnam U17 demonstrated resilience by reversing the tide against Australia. Despite conceding early in the first half, Coach Roland's players scored two consecutive goals thanks to Nguyễn Mạnh Cường and Chu Ngọc Nguyễn Lực to secure a 2-1 win, thereby earning a convincing ticket to the final.

Makanbola stressed that the upcoming clash is not merely a cup contest, but also an opportunity for Malaysia U17 to "settle the debt" with Vietnam. In the group stage, this team suffered a heavy 0-4 defeat in their opening Group A match, before recovering with two consecutive wins to advance as group runners-up.

The article also paid significant attention to Coach Shukor Adan and Malaysia's young players, as they stand before an opportunity to affirm the new stature of their country's youth football. After the severe loss to Vietnam, the entire team reportedly made substantial adjustments both in tactics and morale.

The final between Vietnam U17 and Malaysia U17 will take place on April 24, 2026 at Gelora Delta Sidoarjo Stadium. According to Makanbola, all attention is now focused on this rematch, where Malaysia harbors ambitions for revenge, while Vietnam aims to assert its superior strength.