KUALA LUMPUR – Defending champions Vietnam will have the chance to defend their title after defeating Malaysia tonight in the 2021 SEA Games semifinals at the Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho province.
Following the defeat, the national U-23 squad will compete for the bronze medal with Indonesia, who lost to Thailand 1-0 in the other semifinal match.
In the match earlier, Vietnam’s midfielder Nguyen Tien Linh managed to score an extra-time goal in the 111th minute.
The outcome today saw a repeat of Malaysia and Vietnam’s SEA Games history when both met in the 2005 edition in the Philippines, with the latter emerging with a 2-1 win.
During the match, the national squad ended their campaign with a bronze after downing Indonesia 1-0 in the decider.
In the prior edition, they had also lost to Vietnam 4-3 in the same stage, eventually coming home with a bronze after defeating Myanmar.
The last time Malaysia won gold was in 2011 in Indonesia under the tutelage of Datuk Ong Kim Swee. – The Vibes, May 19, 2022