Xuân Son returns at the right time, still the difference maker for the Vietnam national team in big matches.

Nguyễn Xuân Son has rediscovered his scoring touch at the time the Vietnam national team needed him most. His diving header that beat Malaysia's goalkeeper in the 45+5th minute not only helped Vietnam take the lead in the first leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinal, but also marked a notable return for the striker who won the Golden Boot and Best Player of the tournament two years ago.

The goal came after a very neat combination. From a long pass by Lê Phạm Thành Long, Trương Tiến Anh broke down the right wing and delivered a cross at the right height. Xuân Son chose a favorable position, leaped high, and executed a header almost horizontally, sending the ball into the Malaysian net. This was a particularly significant strike because it came just before the end of the first half, at a time when both teams were locked in a tight contest.

Xuân Son's timely return

Before the semifinal in Kuala Lumpur, Xuân Son was one of the most talked about names. Not because he was in outstanding goal-scoring form, but rather because his performances had not fully met expectations.

In the 2026 ASEAN Cup, Xuân Son had 2 goals in 4 appearances before the Malaysia match, including two starts from the bench. Meanwhile, Nguyễn Đình Bắc had scored 5 goals in the group stage and become the most prominent striker for the Vietnam national team. This contrast raised questions about Xuân Son's role in Coach Kim Sang-sik's lineup heading into the semifinals.

That was a completely different context from the 2024 ASEAN Cup. Two years ago, Xuân Son only started playing from the last group stage match but then scored 7 consecutive goals in 5 matches, winning both the Golden Boot and Best Player awards. Notably, 5 of his 7 goals were scored in the knockout rounds.

After such an explosive tournament, a serious injury in the first leg of the 2024 ASEAN Cup final forced Xuân Son to be sidelined for about 10 months. Returning to the pitch and participating in a major tournament like the 2026 ASEAN Cup was itself a difficult process. Therefore, his failure to match the goal-scoring efficiency of two years ago should be seen in that context.

Right before the match against Malaysia, many people also wondered whether Xuân Son could rediscover his scoring instinct in the knockout stage. The 29-year-old striker had gradually regained his feel for the ball, and also showed a tendency to play more as a team player, dropping deeper to hold up the ball and create space for his teammates rather than just waiting for the ball in the box.

That also matched Xuân Son's own statement before the match. When asked by Malaysian media whether he felt pressure to prove himself after scoring a brace against Malaysia in March, the Vietnamese striker affirmed: "I don't need to prove anything in this match. I just want to do my job well in a big game."

That statement showed that Xuân Son entered the semifinal with a fairly calm mindset. He did not put personal goals above the team's mission, but emphasized playing well to help Vietnam win.

And then, it was he himself who created the decisive moment at the end of the first half.

Xuân Son remains the different option for Vietnam

The goal against Malaysia showed that the qualities that once helped Xuân Son make his mark at the 2024 ASEAN Cup are still intact.

The striker's ability to choose positions, his jumping power, and aerial prowess are especially suited to matches where Vietnam faces a tightly organized defense. With just one quality cross from Tiến Anh, Xuân Son turned a very small gap into a goal.

Notably, Malaysia is not an unfamiliar opponent for Xuân Son. In March 2026, he scored a brace to help Vietnam beat Malaysia 3-1 in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Therefore, the Malaysian media had paid special attention to this striker before the semifinal.

Xuân Son also understood the discomfort he might face on the Kuala Lumpur pitch. Before the match, he frankly stated that he did not like the zoisia grass there because of its hard feel and had previously struggled on similar surfaces. However, he affirmed that he would put that issue aside to focus on the game.

That was a notable detail, because Xuân Son's goal came in a match where Vietnam did not have complete control. Malaysia had periods of pressure and created chances, while Vietnam had to patiently wait for their opportunity. When the opportunity came, Xuân Son handled it exactly as a center forward should.

Xuân Son's return doesn't necessarily have to be measured by the number of goals. His value also lies in his ability to draw extra attention from the opponent's defense, creating space for Đình Bắc, Tài Lộc, or the midfielders behind him.