Cheng Hoe aims to repeat 2014 history

Interim Harimau Malaya coach Tan Cheng Hoe is looking to the national team's 2014 success under Datuk Dollah Salleh as a source of inspiration ahead of the second leg of the 2026 ASEAN Cup semi-final against Vietnam tonight. Malaysia must overcome a 0-2 deficit from the first leg in Hanoi, a mission Cheng Hoe believes history can help fuel.

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The result in the 2014 edition under Dollah Salleh was something great. They managed to turn the situation around after losing the first leg 1-2 and then winning 4-2 here.

In the 2014 ASEAN Cup semi-finals, Malaysia staged a remarkable comeback, overturning a 1-2 first-leg deficit against Vietnam to win the second leg 4-2 in Hanoi and advance to the final. "The result in the 2014 edition under Dollah Salleh was something great. They managed to turn the situation around after losing the first leg 1-2 and then winning 4-2 here," Cheng Hoe stated.

He added, "That result gives us confidence and, at the same time, after 12 years, it makes the players and coaches continue to change. We want to get that kind of motivation." Cheng Hoe acknowledged that matches against Vietnam are always challenging but expressed pride in his players' ability to pressure Vietnam into a more defensive stance during the previous encounter.

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That result gives us confidence and, at the same time, after 12 years, it makes the players and coaches continue to change. We want to get that kind of motivation.

Cheng Hoe also recognized Vietnam's formidable record of being unbeaten in 23 international matches, presenting a significant challenge for Harimau Malaya to achieve an upset. "We know Malaysia and Vietnam's records are not that good. But in football, you have to go onto the field with the belief that you can change the outcome," he said.

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We know Malaysia and Vietnam's records are not that good. But in football, you have to go onto the field with the belief that you can change the outcome.

"We still respect Vietnam, especially with their record under Kim Sang Sik, being unbeaten in 23 matches. All those statistics and records should be motivation, not an excuse for us to feel inferior," Cheng Hoe added. He believes his players now better understand the situation after the first-leg loss and that this experience will help them mature in Hanoi. Harimau Malaya has 90 minutes to replicate the "magic of Hanoi 2014," this time with the greater objective of erasing a two-goal deficit and securing a spot in the ASEAN Cup final.

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We still respect Vietnam, especially with their record under Kim Sang Sik, being unbeaten in 23 matches. All those statistics and records should be motivation, not an excuse for us to feel inferior.