Vietnam vs Malaysia: Expectations high for Nguyen Xuan Son after the 0-4 defeat.
With Tien Linh and Dinh Bac absent, coach Kim Sang-sik placed his full trust in Nguyen Xuan Son to turn the tide against Malaysia after their defeat in the first leg.
The Vietnamese national team is entering the final stages of preparation for the crucial rematch against Malaysia. The 0-4 defeat in the first leg forces coach Kim Sang-sik to seek a victory by at least four goals to keep any hope of a comeback alive. However, this goal faces a huge challenge as the attacking line has suffered serious personnel losses.
Attacking crisis right before the big game.
The absence of Nguyen Tien Linh due to injury has left a huge void in the attacking line. This striker is not only the main goalscorer but also plays a crucial role in holding up the ball and dictating the attacking structure. His absence forces coach Kim Sang-sik to completely change his approach to attacking the opponent's goal.
The difficulties are compounded by the fact that Nguyen Dinh Bac is also unavailable due to a suspension from the 2026 U23 Asian Championship. Without Dinh Bac's speed and ability to break through defenses, the Vietnamese team lacks a sharp weapon to penetrate Malaysia's physically strong defense, which includes many naturalized players. In this situation, all hopes rest on Nguyen Xuan Son.
The paradox of Nguyen Xuan Son's form.
Despite being the biggest hope, Nguyen Xuan Son's form is causing mixed feelings. Since his return in November 2025, the striker has yet to score a goal in the V-League. His ball control and characteristic sharpness seem to be seriously affected.
At Nam Dinh FC, Xuan Son repeatedly squandered golden opportunities. Notably, he missed a penalty in the 90+7th minute against Thanh Hoa and his shot went wide of the post when facing the Ha Tinh goalkeeper in the 78th minute. These mistakes directly caused the Nam Dinh team to drop crucial points.
Key to deciphering Malaysia
Despite his poor form in the domestic league, Xuan Son has shown a completely different side in the Southeast Asian Champions League. He has scored 7 goals in just 3 appearances for Nam Dinh. This impressive performance proves that the Brazilian striker's killer instinct has not diminished; he just needs the right environment and support to shine.
Explaining this inconsistent performance, coach Mauro Jeronimo suggested that Xuan Son needed more time to get back into rhythm after nearly a year on the sidelines, and that the demanding schedule of playing a match every three days significantly affected his fitness. However, for coach Kim Sang-sik, he didn't have many other options. Maximizing Xuan Son's goal-scoring ability in the regional tournament was crucial to solving the Malaysian problem and securing a place in the next round.
