Cheng Hoe relieved as Malaysia reaches semifinals, assessing Vietnam as the 'favorites'

A clear sense of relief was visible on the face of interim national team coach Tan Cheng Hoe following Malaysia's qualification for the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinals.

A narrow 1-0 victory over the Philippines at Kuala Lumpur Stadium allowed Malaysia to finish second in Group B, thereby earning a place among the tournament's top four teams.

Coach Tan Cheng Hoe stated that the high level of commitment shown by the players throughout the match, along with the support and guidance from the coaching staff, was one of the key factors that helped the team achieve this goal.

According to him, the players maintained their focus despite facing a tough match against the Philippines and the pressure to secure the necessary three points.

"Congratulations to all the players for this important victory. The match against the Philippines was not easy, but the players showed great concentration from the first minute until the final whistle.

The most important thing is that we earned three points and secured our place in the semifinals. Although our preparation faced many challenges, the players' desire to give their best was immense.

The coaching staff also provided a lot of support in terms of instructions and preparation for the players. As a result, we qualified for the semifinals, even though not many people may have had high expectations for the team at the start of the tournament," he said during the post-match press conference.

However, a tougher task awaits Malaysia as they will face defending champions Vietnam in the semifinals, scheduled for August 16 and 19.

Coach Tan Cheng Hoe said that Malaysia will need to prepare thoroughly for the two-legged semifinal and hopes the players will maintain the same fighting spirit shown against the Philippines.

Coach Tan Cheng Hoe now has only a short period of time to refine the team, especially in tactical aspects and finishing ability, to ensure that the winning momentum from the Philippines match can be sustained in the knockout stage.