KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia went down 0-2 to Vietnam in the first leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semi-final last night, but midfielder Sergio Aguero insists Harimau Malaya can hold their heads high and stage a fightback in Wednesday's return leg in Hanoi.
The 32-year-old naturalised player rated the team’s display as Malaysia's best of the tournament, even though the hosts squandered chances and conceded two goals to the defending champions.
“I'm so proud of the boys. We played an amazing game. The Vietnam coach (Kim Sang Sik) is my friend, and he told me that he was surprised by what we did in the first half.
“So we have to be proud. Now we have 90 minutes more to go and fight and show the same, and I hope we can come back,” he said when met after the game.
Nguyen Xuan Son's strike in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, followed by an own goal from Muhammad Faris Danish Asrul in the 86th minute, gave Vietnam the edge heading into Wednesday's return leg at My Dinh Stadium.
Malaysia's best ASEAN Cup run came in 2010, when they lifted the trophy. Vietnam, meanwhile, are three-time champions, having won in 2008, 2018 and 2024.
In the other semi-final, seven-time champions Thailand beat four-time winners Singapore 3-1 away at Jalan Besar Stadium, with the return leg set for tomorrow at Rajamangala Stadium.
-- BERNAMA
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