The Vietnamese sought to add to their first leg advantage as soon as possible with Phan Tuan Tai shooting across the face of goal within seconds of the opening whistle while Nguyen Dinh Bac and Doan Van Hau both went close inside the first 10 minutes.

Azri Ghani was forced into a spectacular save to deny Dinh Bac midway through the half, the Malaysian goalkeeper throwing himself to his right to keep out a shot from the edge of the area that was destined for the top corner.

It was Azri who stood between Vietnam and the opener with Van Hau denied a second time before Nguyen Quang Hai’s shot was palmed to safety while Do Hoang Hen somehow shot wide with the goal at his mercy with a minute left in the half.

Azri kept out Dinh Bac’s header soon after the restart but the Malaysians finally threatened at the other end, Patrik Le Giang keeping out G. Pavithran’s effort with Paulo Josue’s follow-up deflected over the bar.

As the hour mark approached Kim finally introduced Xuan Son into his misfiring side and within three minutes of his arrival the Brazil-born striker scored.

The Nam Dinh forward had already seen Azri keep out a point-blank header when, in the 62nd minute, he made no mistake, pouncing after Truong Tien Anh’s shot had been deflected into his path just two yards from goal.

Azri prevented Xuan Son from scoring a second when he threw himself at full stretch to his right to push a goal-bound shot around the post, but the striker beat converted again with a shot from the left that flew across goal and in at the far post to seal Vietnam’s win.