Tan Cheng Hoe Claims Malaysia Were Dominant, but 10-Man Indonesia Remain Unbeaten
Baca dalam 60 detik
- Malaysia gagal memanfaatkan keunggulan jumlah pemain setelah Thom Haye dikartu merah pada menit ke-38, laga berakhir 0-0.
- Pelatih Tan Cheng Hoe menyebut timnya menguasai pertandingan, namun statistik menunjukkan penyelesaian akhir yang buruk.
- Hasil ini membuka peluang Indonesia lolos dari fase grup, sementara Malaysia harus waspada terhadap tekanan di laga sisa.
Malaysia had to settle for a share of the points with Indonesia in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 Group A match that ended goalless at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Monday (28/9/2026). Despite playing with a numerical advantage from the 38th minute, Tan Cheng Hoe's squad could not break the deadlock against a disciplined host side.
The red card shown to midfielder Thom Haye became the turning point of the match. Referee Ko Hyung-jin of South Korea sent off Haye after a hard foul on Malaysia winger Arif Aiman. From then on, Indonesia chose to defend deep and rely on counterattacks, while Malaysia raised the intensity of their attacks.
However, dominance in possession did not translate into goals. Sofascore data showed Malaysia had 63 percent possession and fired eight shots on target. Indonesia, by contrast, recorded just one attempt. This failure to convert chances was why Malaysia went home with one point, not three.
"We dominated and created several chances, especially in the second half. If you don't score, that's football," Tan Cheng Hoe said in the post-match press conference.
The 58-year-old coach added that two difficult matches against Indonesia showed the quality of the opponent. "Our players performed well, and they deserve appreciation," he said.
For Indonesia, the result keeps their hopes of advancing from the group stage alive. Playing with ten men for more than 50 minutes under pressure from Malaysia was a heavy mental test. Indonesia's coach, who declined to be named, is said to be planning to evaluate player discipline ahead of the next match.
On the other hand, Malaysia must quickly fix their finishing. Two matches without a win leave their position in Group A far from secure. Tan Cheng Hoe is aware that efficiency in front of goal will be key to getting the maximum result in their next match.
The match also reflected the increasingly tight competition in Southeast Asian football. Indonesia, without several key players, were still able to trouble Malaysia. Meanwhile Malaysia, with a more complete squad, failed to show sharpness.
Going forward, Indonesia will face their next opponent with confidence after holding Malaysia to a draw. Malaysia, meanwhile, must bounce back if they want to keep their chances of reaching the next round alive. The question is, can Malaysia turn dominance into victory, or will Indonesia only grow more solid?
