Vietnam U23 vs Malaysia U23 at 8 PM tonight: Seize the opportunity when it arises.

There's so much to say after Vietnam U23's 3-1 victory over Kuwait in their opening match of Group D at the 2024 AFC U23 Asian Championship a few days ago. It's the limited capabilities of both teams, the unnecessary red cards, the case of Nguyen Ngoc Thang, Nguyen Minh Quang's unbelievable missed opportunity, and Bui Vi Hao's brace. So much to talk about, so much to analyze.

But right now, nothing matters as much as the result. Even if it's not a victory that satisfies us, the most important thing is that we've secured 3 points. This win is a huge step forward for the Vietnam U23 team to advance from the group stage.

The one-sided match between Uzbekistan U23 and Malaysia U23 highlighted the significant gap between the two teams in Group D and further solidified the Central Asian representative's top position. Behind them, Vietnam U23 holds a considerable advantage having already defeated their direct rival. In this situation, simply avoiding defeat against Malaysia would give Vietnam U23 4 points and almost guarantee their progression to the next round.

The first three points against Kuwait also put the Vietnam U23 team in a superior position going into the match against Malaysia. Coach Hoang Anh Tuan's team could afford to play slowly, wait for opportunities, and capitalize on their opponent's mistakes. Conversely, the Malaysians understood that victory was their only option if they still harbored hopes of qualifying for the AFC U23 Asian Championship.

However, Malaysia doesn't have many reasons to believe they can win.

In the 90 minutes against Uzbekistan, U23 Malaysia only managed 2 shots on target compared to 19 from their opponents. The West Asian team held possession for 59%, had superior chances, corner kicks, and dominated both aerial and ground challenges. Having conceded 19 shots, including 12 inside the penalty area, U23 Malaysia should have lost by a much larger margin. U23 Malaysia's weakness provides a basis for coach Hoang Anh Tuan's team to dream of a second victory, which would secure them an early ticket to the quarterfinals.

At this point in the U23 Asian Championship, it's fair to say that the Vietnamese U23 team is experiencing good fortune. Firstly, they only have to face the strongest team in the group, Uzbekistan, in the final match. Secondly, they've been playing against opponents who are currently facing problems (Kuwait was in crisis before the tournament, and Malaysia just lost their first match). The team also has the advantage of having a man advantage because their opponent received a red card, and they were "gifted" a goal thanks to their goalkeeper in the match against Kuwait.

The team under coach Hoang Anh Tuan is clearly not yet outstanding, but they are fortunate, and perhaps that is enough to move forward.

The Malaysian U23 team also has little to offer in the face of Vietnam's dream. Last year, they lost to the Vietnamese U23 team, coached by Hoang Anh Tuan, with a score of 1-4 in the semi-finals of the Southeast Asian U23 Championship. Their form has also been disappointing, having lost all three of their most recent matches. Before that, they also struggled, winning one narrowly and drawing one against India in March.

The Malaysian U23 squad also lacks any standout players. The most notable name is Luqman Hakim, who plays in Japan but only for Yokohama in the J3 League. The remaining 22 Malaysian players all play domestically. They have a few naturalized players, but their quality isn't very high and can't be compared to their regional neighbors Indonesia or Thailand.

Predicted lineup

Malaysia U23:Azim Al Amin, Zikri Khalili, Adam Afkar, Safwan Mazlan, Nooa Laine, Mukhairi Ajmal, Abu Khalil, Ubaidullah Shamsul, Fergus Tierney, Luqman Hakim, Asim Rosli.

Vietnam U23 team:Van Chuan, Duy Cuong, Le Nguyen Hoang, Hong Phuc, Van Cuong, Thai Son, Minh Khoa, Van Khang, Van Tung, Van Truong, Vi Hao.