Laos started promisingly but it was Indonesia who had the first sight on goal through Rachmat Irianto’s strike from distance. 

Indonesia, 4-2 victors over Cambodia in their opener, got their opening goal through Asnawi Mangkualam’s 23rd minute spot-kick after Kydavone Souvanny’s foul on Alfeandra Dewangga. 

Irfan Jaya doubled Indonesia’s advantage in the 34th minute, connecting to Asnawi’s cross into the box, but Laos managed to pull one back in the 41st minute with Kydavone scoring off a swift counter-attacking move. 

Indonesia kicked off the second half with two changes, and substitute Witan Sulaeman got into the goal scoring action in the 56th minute, courtesy of Irfan Jaya’s tee-up, before assisting fellow substitute Ezra Walian for their fourth goal in the 77th minute. 

Victory was sealed in style in the 84th minute when Evan Dimas found the back of the net after beating the offside trap. 

Indonesia will go up against Vietnam next on Wednesday, while Laos close off their campaign against Cambodia. 

The much anticipated match kicked off to a cagey start with both sides trading possession, but it was Malaysia goalkeeper Khairul Aiman who was the busier custodian in the opening minutes of the match. 

Vietnam’s persistence paid off in the 32nd minute when Nguyen Tuan Anh cut back into the area for Nguyen Quang Hai’s fine finish into the top left corner of the net, and the goal scorer turned provider just five minutes later with a backheel pass to Nguyen Cong Phuong, who outdribbled two Malaysian defenders, before beating Khairul Aiman. 

Malaysia made a series of changes in the later stages of the match, with Arif Aiman coming closest with his back-to-back attempts in the 82nd and 83rd minutes, but Vietnam goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh was unbeatable. 

Vietnam were clearly in the zone as they sealed all three points with Nguyen Hoang Duc closing off the proceedings in the 89th minute through his strike from outside the box. 

Malaysia will not feature on Matchday Four, with their final Group B tie against Indonesia next Sunday.