Malaysian media reacts strongly after losing heavily to Vietnam by 4 goals

The overwhelming victory of Vietnam's U17 team over Malaysia not only resonated across the region but also provoked sharp and deeply disappointed reactions from Malaysian media.

Vietnam's U17 team had a debut that could not be more impressive at the 2026 Southeast Asia U17 Championship by defeating Malaysia's U17 team with a score of 4-0. The match was one-sided as Vietnam's representatives completely controlled the game, from ball possession to sharp attacking organization.

From the very first minutes, Vietnam's U17 team showed their initiative. The opening goal came from Sỹ Bách's precise header following a corner kick. Afterwards, the game became more open as Malaysia had to push forward to seek an equalizer, but this move exposed many gaps in their defense.

Vietnam's young team thoroughly exploited the opportunities. The second goal again credited Sỹ Bách after a clear combination, before Văn Dương raised the score to 3-0 with a close-range finish in the first half. In the second half, defender Mạnh Cường sealed the 4-0 victory with a decisive shot from a set-piece situation.

After the match, Scoop published an article with a notable headline, stating that Malaysia's U17 team “completely collapsed under the pressure and speed of the opponent”. This newspaper assessed that Malaysia's defense “was disorganized, reacted slowly, and was continuously exploited by the intelligent movements of Vietnam's U17 team”.

Not stopping there, Scoop also pointed out that the physical fitness and competitive spirit of Malaysia's U17 team clearly declined after conceding two goals. They described the second half as “a disjointed performance, lacking ideas and almost surrendering”. This is considered a rather sharp reaction from Malaysian media following the heavy defeat.

The actual on-field situation also showed a clear disparity. While Vietnam's U17 team maintained a steady pace and controlled the game well, Malaysia appeared stuck in developing their play. Their rare opportunities were insufficiently dangerous to make a difference.

This victory not only holds significance in terms of points but also gives Vietnam's U17 team a major advantage in the race for the top spot in the group. Simultaneously, this serves as an important preparatory step before aiming for larger goals such as the AFC U17 Asian Cup finals.

With what has been demonstrated, Vietnam's young players are showing clear progress both in technique and tactical thinking. Meanwhile, Malaysia's U17 team will certainly need to review many issues if they wish to avoid similar results in the future.