Malaysia coach Tan Cheng Hoe believes his side’s 4-0 win over Laos in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday will give his players added confidence ahead of their crunch ASEAN Hyundai Cup™ 2026 clash with Thailand as the 2010 title winners chase a place in the knock-out rounds.
The win was Malaysia’s second in a row in the competition after an opening day victory over Myanmar and places the Harimau Malaya at the summit of the Group B standings ahead of their meeting with the seven-times champions in Bangkok on Saturday.
“As a coach, I am very pleased with the result,” said Tan. “We have continued building momentum and developing a better understanding within the team.
“Securing another three points gives us added motivation ahead of our next match against Thailand. However, we still have a great deal of work to do to improve the team.
“We now have another two days to prepare ourselves and be ready for the match against Thailand.”
The Malaysians struggled to break down a resolute Laos defence throughout the first half but made the breakthrough in the last minute before the interval when captain Paulo Josué struck from close range for his third goal in the tournament which is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Endrick doubled Malaysia’s advantage after the interval before an own goal by Viengxay Sydavong and a free kick from Wan Kuzian Kuzain delivered a hard-fought but deserved win for Tan and his team.
“We struggled slightly to settle into the match during the first half because Laos defended in a very compact block,” said Tan. “We found it difficult to penetrate their defence and score.
“It was important that our captain, Paulo Josué, scored the opening goal because it gave the team confidence. We then performed increasingly well during the second half. Once the players gained confidence, the goals and the overall flow of the team followed.
“We know Thailand have a strong group of players and will be playing at home at Rajamangala Stadium. We therefore have to prepare ourselves to face much tougher opponents.
“I am sure the players learned something tonight about playing and working together as a team. Teamwork will be extremely important in our next match against Thailand.”
Laos coach Vladica Grujić was left to rue a pair of missed opportunities in the first half when the scores were still level as his team slipped to a second loss following their earlier defeat at the hands of Thailand.
“Our plan was reflected in the first half, when we created two big chances,” he said. “Had we scored from one of those opportunities, it could have been a completely different match.
“However, after losing our opening game 5-0, failing to convert those chances affected the players’ confidence and the team’s level dropped slightly.
“We now have to move forward and focus on our next match against the Philippines.”
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