Hanoi, Aug. 20 -- Regional media have hailed striker Nguyen Xuan Son as the key factor behind Vietnam's 4-0 aggregate victory over Malaysia in the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinals after his brace secured a 2-0 win in the second leg and sent the defending champions into the final.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) website particularly highlighted head coach Kim Sang Sik's decision to bring Son on in the 60th minute.

"Substitute Nguyen Xuan Son scored in the 62nd and 89th minutes as Vietnam finally found a way past goalkeeper Azri Ghani, who gave the Malaysians hope of an unlikely comeback with a performance that frustrated the home side throughout the clash at My Dinh Stadium", it said.

AFC noted that Malaysia goalkeeper Azri had produced...