Indonesian media unexpectedly mention Xuân Son ahead of the crucial match against Malaysia

Indonesian media collectively highlight Nguyễn Xuân Son’s outstanding performance, considering the naturalized forward a serious concern for Malaysia ahead of the key Asian Cup 2027 qualifying match.

The Indonesian media are paying special attention to Nguyễn Xuân Son, following the impressive comeback of the striker currently playing for Thép Xanh Nam Định. Recently, Superball described Xuân Son’s form as “out of control,” even using strong phrases like “destroying opponents” and “a weapon that could bring down Malaysia” when referring to the upcoming Vietnam vs. Malaysia clash.

Vietnam’s naturalized striker, Nguyễn Xuân Son, is making Malaysia cautious with his “devastating” performance, especially based on his displays at the ASEAN Club Championship 2025,Superball commented.

Superball noted that Xuân Son just recently recovered from a broken leg injury sustained in the 2024 AFF Cup final, yet he immediately made an impact at club level. At the ASEAN Club Championship 2025, Xuân Son scored a brace to help Nam Định defeat Lion City Sailors 3-0, rising to the top of the tournament’s scoring chart with 7 goals. Indonesian media consider this data as “proof” that Xuân Son is ready to be the main spearhead for coach Kim Sang-sik.

The publication also emphasized Vietnam’s advantage of playing at Thiên Trường Stadium. Superball predicts that playing at home with the support of tens of thousands of fans could make Xuân Son even more dangerous, especially as he is currently at peak performance.

Indonesian media also remind readers of the importance of the March 31 encounter. Malaysia currently leads the group with 15 points, closely followed by Vietnam with 12 points, but everything could change if the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) issues an unfavorable ruling against the “Southeast Asian Tigers.”

Malaysia could be handed 0-3 losses in two matches against Nepal and Vietnam, where they fielded ineligible naturalized players. Previously, FIFA also penalized Malaysia with 0-3 defeats in three friendly matches due to the same issue. This led the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to file an appeal with CAS.

Currently, the AFC is awaiting the final CAS ruling, expected on February 28. If CAS rejects Malaysia’s appeal, it is highly likely Malaysia will forfeit those two matches, putting them at a disadvantage before the do-or-die match against Vietnam. At that point, Vietnam would have 15 points and hold a clear advantage over Malaysia’s 9 points.

From Indonesia’s perspective, everything is aligning to make the Vietnam–Malaysia match a “heated” contest both technically and publicly, with Xuân Son being the most mentioned name as the catalyst who could change the dynamics for coach Kim Sang-sik’s squad.