KUALA LUMPUR − After losing 3-0 to defending champions Vietnam in their third Group B match in the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Cup 2020 in Singapore on Sunday, Malaysia’s hope of qualifying for the semi-finals is hanging in the balance.
Not only has the loss sent Malaysia dropping to third spot in the five-team standings with six points, it has given Indonesia and Vietnam, who are first and second in the group, a huge boost as the race to reach the semi-finals from Group B heads towards a climactic end.
Indonesia and Vietnam also have six points each but they both have a match in hand.
Indonesia and Vietnam will clash at the Bishan Stadium tomorrow and this is where the permutations get interesting.
If Vietnam wins or draws against Indonesia, it’s simple. Malaysia just needs to beat the Garuda in their last group match at the Singapore National Stadium on December 19 to join Vietnam in the last four.
But the situation gets complicated for coach Tan Cheng Hoe’s Harimau Malaya if Indonesia upsets the Golden Dragon.
Not only will the win consolidate Indonesia’s position at the top of the standings, it will also give the team coached by South Korean Shin Tae-yong extra motivation when they face the Harimau Malaya on Sunday.
Let’s say Indonesia beats Vietnam but loses to Malaysia (in the last group match), then all three teams will end up with the same number of points − 9 points − after completing the group fixtures (this is provided the Golden Dragon keep their part of the bargain by defeating Cambodia in their last match).
Then, goal difference and head-to-head records will come into play to decide who will advance to the semi-finals. As things stand now, Indonesia have a goal difference of +6, Vietnam +5 and Malaysia +3.
In other words, if Indonesia beat Vietnam tomorrow, then Malaysia must not only beat the Garuda but also pile on the goals for a better goal difference when they meet on Sunday. The first task is not impossible, but the second task...
Now, first things first. Can coach Tae-yong’s Indonesian team, who are ranked 166 in the world, eke out a win against world number 99 Vietnam, who are coached by Park Hang-seo?
According to former national football team coach Dollah Salleh, who guided Malaysia to the 2014 AFF Cup final, it’s unlikely.
“I believe that it will be difficult for Indonesia to take all three points against Vietnam because − based on what I saw when Indonesia played Cambodia the other day − their (Indonesia’s) defence looked shaky,” said the 58-year-old when contacted by Bernama today.
Whatever happens in the match between Indonesia and Vietnam tomorrow, the Harimau Malaya owe it to all Malaysian football fans to give their best when they take on Indonesia in their last group match.
Win, lose or draw. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that the national players show pride and fight for the badge on the jersey!
Is that too much to ask for, boys? – Bernama, December 14, 2021
