South Korean newspaper: "Coach Kim Sang Sik has a chance to rewrite history, doing what Mr. Park could not"

Daum, a South Korean media outlet, ran a detailed piece commending Vietnam's win against Malaysia in the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinal first leg and mentioning the historic chance for Coach Kim Sang Sik. Here is the Korean newspaper's article.

The Vietnamese national team stands on the verge of achieving an unprecedented milestone in ASEAN Cup history. A 2-0 victory on Malaysian soil in the semifinal first leg gives Coach Kim Sang Sik's squad a massive advantage heading into the return leg, bringing them closer to defending their title.

Vietnam took a major step toward conquering the ASEAN Cup 2026 championship after defeating Malaysia 2-0 in the semifinal first leg at Kuala Lumpur Stadium. Nguyen Xuan Son opened the scoring with a spectacular diving header, and the visitors added a second goal from an own goal by the opponent.

With a two-goal cushion away from home, Vietnam holds a significant advantage ahead of the semifinal second leg on August 19. Even if Malaysia wins by a single goal, Coach Kim Sang Sik's team would still advance to the final.

If they complete the task, Vietnam will appear in the ASEAN Cup final for the second consecutive time. This is a special achievement, as the team has never reached back-to-back finals in the tournament's history.

Kim Sang Sik faces the opportunity to do what Park Hang Seo never achieved

The victory over Malaysia not only brings Vietnam closer to the final but also opens the door to creating a historic milestone.

Under Coach Kim Sang Sik, Vietnam won the ASEAN Cup 2024 and is now aiming to successfully defend the title. If they overcome Malaysia again, Vietnam will reach the final of two consecutive ASEAN Cups for the first time in history.

Previously, Coach Park Hang Seo led Vietnam to the top of Southeast Asia in the 2018 edition. However, in the 2020 ASEAN Cup, the team stopped in the semifinals and failed to defend the title.

In the 2022 ASEAN Cup, Vietnam once again reached the final under Park Hang Seo's guidance but only finished as runners-up.

Therefore, if Coach Kim Sang Sik leads Vietnam back to the final this year, he will set a milestone that even his predecessor Park Hang Seo never achieved. Furthermore, if they go on to win the championship, Vietnam will successfully defend the ASEAN Cup crown for the first time.

Xuan Son broke the deadlock with a stunning goal

Before entering the semifinals, Vietnam had shown impressive form in the group stage. Coach Kim Sang Sik's team topped Group A with 3 wins and 1 draw, earning 10 points, scoring 13 goals, and conceding only once.

Meanwhile, Malaysia finished second in Group B with 3 wins and 1 loss. Despite playing at home, Malaysia faced significant difficulties against a Vietnam side that controlled the game better.

After a period of stalemate, Vietnam created a turning point just before the end of the first half. In stoppage time, a cross from the right flank went deep into Malaysia's penalty area. Just when the ball seemed out of reach, Nguyen Xuan Son suddenly lunged forward, executing a decisive diving header.

The technical and powerful execution by the Vietnamese striker left the Malaysian goalkeeper helpless. The ball went straight into the net, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

It was one of the most outstanding moments of the match, showcasing Xuan Son's ability to create breakthroughs in crucial moments.

In the second half, Malaysia pushed forward aggressively in search of an equalizer. Vietnam faced a worrying moment when a player was shown a red card by the referee, putting the visitors at risk of playing with a man down.

However, after reviewing the incident through the VAR system and conducting an on-field check, the referee overturned the red card decision. Vietnam thus avoided a major disadvantage at a time when Malaysia was increasing pressure.

Not only did they keep their full squad, but Vietnam also scored an additional goal in the 86th minute in a rather fortunate manner.

From a ball buildup on the flank, a Vietnamese player sent a pass back into the danger zone. The ball then deflected off a Malaysian defender's leg, changed direction, and rolled into the net, leaving the home goalkeeper helpless.

The own goal helped Vietnam extend the lead to 2-0 and virtually crushed Malaysia's hopes in the first leg.

In the remaining minutes, the visitors proactively maintained their solidity, successfully protecting the two-goal advantage to leave Kuala Lumpur with a huge edge.

The door to the final is wide open

The 2-0 win gives Vietnam confidence heading into the second leg at home on August 19. With a two-goal advantage, Coach Kim Sang Sik's team only needs to avoid a defeat by a margin of two goals or more to have a very strong chance of securing a final berth.

More importantly, Vietnam has the opportunity to further solidify its status as one of Southeast Asia's top football powers. After winning the 2024 ASEAN Cup, the team can take another step to defend the throne and establish an achievement streak never before seen in the tournament's history.

If Vietnam completes the task against Malaysia, domestic football fans will have even more reason to expect another final appearance for the team. And if they go on to rise to the top of Southeast Asia, Coach Kim Sang Sik and his players will officially write a new chapter in Vietnamese football history.