Nepal Coach: 'Vietnam Deserves to Advance More Than Malaysia'

Nepal assistant coach Salyan Khadgi emphasized that Vietnam deserves to move forward in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifying round rather than Malaysia.

On the evening of October 14, at Thong Nhat Stadium, Vietnam defeated Nepal 1-0 in Group F of the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Although it was a narrow victory, this result helped coach Kim Sang-sik’s team secure second place, maintaining a 3-point gap behind group leaders Malaysia.

After the match, when asked about the chances of Vietnam and Malaysia advancing from Group F, assistant coach Salyan Khadgi candidly shared his opinion:

“I believe the Vietnam national team deserves and has a better chance of qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup than Malaysia. What I mean refers to recent events involving FIFA. If FIFA’s rules were applied, the outcome would be different.”

The Nepal assistant coach also expressed gratitude to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) for their organization and playing conditions:

"Given the current situation, Nepal cannot play home matches at home stadiums; upcoming matches must be held at alternative venues, which affects us. Nonetheless, we have received full support from VFF. The playing conditions today were better than those in the away game a few days ago."

The match was dominated by Vietnam controlling the entire game. Coach Kim Sang-sik’s players had superior possession, consistently launching attacks down the wings and through the center, creating many dangerous chances. However, Nepal’s disciplined defense and resilient spirit made it difficult for the hosts to break through the opponent’s goal.

The turning point came when Hieu Minh’s header deflected off a Nepal player and went straight into the net. The own goal gave Vietnam a 1-0 lead, which was also the match’s only goal. In the second half, despite continuing to control possession and creating more chances, the red-shirted forwards lacked finishing accuracy, so the score remained unchanged until the final whistle.

With these 3 points, Vietnam maintains its chance to compete for the top spot in Group F. In November, coach Kim Sang-sik’s team will face Laos before the decisive match against Malaysia in March 2026.

Meanwhile, Nepal remains without any points after 4 matches and sits at the bottom of the group. Nevertheless, Nepal’s fighting spirit at Thong Nhat Stadium has earned praise from experts and fans alike.