Vietnam's 3-1 victory marks an unprecedented milestone in history.

The 3-1 triumph against Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualification round not only enabled Vietnam to finish the campaign with a flawless victory streak, but also established a distinctive milestone in the national team's history.

For the first time, the "Golden Star Warriors" fielded a starting lineup in an official match that included two overseas Vietnamese players and two naturalized players.Specifically, the duo of Nguyen Filip (overseas Vietnamese from Czech Republic) and Cao Pendant Quang Vinh (overseas Vietnamese from France) were both present from the start, while the two naturalized players of Brazilian origin, Nguyen Xuan Son and Do Hoang Hen, also made their first joint appearance as starters.

On the Thiên Trường pitch on March 31 evening, Vietnam entered the match cautiously under pressure from Malaysia. The visiting team soon created a dangerous opportunity when Faisal Halim broke through and attempted an audacious lob, but the shot lacked accuracy. Subsequently, Vietnam gradually regained control of the game through set-piece situations.

From a corner kick on the left flank, Duy Manh leaped high and delivered a precise header to open the scoring for the home team. The goal boosted Vietnam's morale, leading to continuous pressure. Hoang Duc nearly doubled the lead with a long-range shot that hit the post, while Hoang Hen also had a dangerous chance but failed to capitalize.

In the second half, the match was completely dominated by the home team. At minute 53, Hai Long threaded a pass down the flank to Hoang Hen, who delivered a favorable cross, Xuan Son positioned himself accurately and headed the ball to increase the score to 2-0. Just minutes later, this duo continued to leave their mark as Xuan Son completed a brace with a courageous aerial effort from Truong Tien Anh's cross, putting Vietnam ahead 3-0.

Notably, this match also demonstrated the effective synergy between naturalized and overseas Vietnamese players. Hoang Hen was the one who assisted Xuan Son's second goal, showcasing the increasingly improved coordination within the squad.

Malaysia could only reduce the deficit to 1-3 after a penalty in minute 77, but that was all they managed to achieve. In the remaining time, Vietnam proactively controlled the game and preserved the victory.

This was not merely a simple win; it also exemplifies the new direction of Vietnamese football in harmoniously integrating diverse resources. From domestic players, overseas Vietnamese to naturalized athletes, all are converging within a collective driven by a strong desire to contribute.