Malaysia unexpectedly brings up the 4-2 victory to 'remind' Vietnam's national team

Former Malaysia coach Datuk Dollah Salleh recalled the 4-2 win over Vietnam in the 2014 AFF Cup semifinal at My Dinh Stadium, stating that Malaysia can definitely recreate that feat in the upcoming rematch.

Malaysian media recently quoted a notable statement from former coach Datuk Dollah Salleh, who surprisingly brought up the 4-2 victory over Vietnam right at My Dinh as a warning ahead of the forthcoming encounter. This is considered one of the most memorable milestones for Malaysian football over the past decade.

In the return leg semifinal of the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup held on December 11, 2014, Malaysia, then under Salleh's guidance, created a major upset by defeating Vietnam 4-2 away, thereby overturning the aggregate score to win 5-4. Despite losing 2-1 in the first leg, the "Malayan Tigers" still left Vietnam's national team regretting the second leg. And now, that memory is being recalled by the former Malaysia coach himself as a message directed at the upcoming match.

The New Straits Times quoted Salleh saying that the current Malaysia team is even better prepared than the 2014 squad, despite the absence of many naturalized players. He affirmed: “Even without seven naturalized stars, the Malaysian national team is currently better prepared than my 2014 team. We once achieved it, defeating Vietnam away, and we can do it again.”

The 62-year-old tactician also emphasized that the mental factor is a crucial key. He warned the players not to give up even though the team is facing many issues, including a potential forfeit ruling from AFC. “We don't want the players to think 'oh, we're already eliminated, there's no reason to fight anymore'. That mentality is very dangerous.”

He continued to motivate the entire team with a powerful message: “If they maintain their spirit and tell themselves 'we must win at all costs', we can still prove to the Malaysian people that we can play and win even without those seven players.”

Additionally, the former vice-president of the Malaysian Football Association dismissed concerns about playing away. He shared his 2014 experience: “From afar they seem intimidating, but actually they are very friendly. Some even applauded when we scored.”

In closing, Salleh believes that if Malaysia can replicate a victory over Vietnam, it would be the best way to conclude this turbulent campaign.“With a victory, we can somewhat erase the shame. It would prove that even with all the problems and the absence of players, we can still achieve good results. Nothing is impossible.”

However, the opponent repeatedly recalling past victories also indicates the weight of Vietnam's national team's current stature. After more than a decade, the balance has shifted considerably, and this is precisely the opportunity for the team to demonstrate its character, erase old memories with a convincing performance, thereby continuing to solidify its leading regional position over Malaysia.