The Thailand football team players
KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand ended their 12-year wait for the AFF Suzuki Cup – thanks to Malaysia, who squandered a three-goal lead, in the second leg of the final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Malaysia, trailing by two goals from the first leg played in Bangkok on Wednesday, were well on their way to winning the Cup last night when they were 3-0 up by the 58th minute. However, the determined Thais fought back to score twice for a final scoreline of 3-2 in Malaysia’s favour but 4-3 on aggregate for Thailand.
Dollah said the result could be different if he had more time.
“I only had one month to prepare the team for the competition ... if I had more time, we could have done better.
“We came close to winning but they again collapsed after 70 minutes despite my warning of the Thai threat during that stage of the game,” said a dejected Dollah Salleh in the post-match press conference.
“However, I have to give the players credit for reaching this stage.”
Malaysia, backed by a vociferous home crowd, went ahead with a brace from Mohd Safiq Rahim (6th minute penalty and 58th min freekick) and Indra Putra Mahayuddin (48th).
“I only had one month to prepare the team for the competition ... if I had more time, we could have done better.
“We came close to winning but they again collapsed after 70 minutes despite my warning of the Thai threat during that stage of the game,” said a dejected Dollah Salleh in the post-match press conference.
“However, I have to give the players credit for reaching this stage.”
Malaysia, backed by a vociferous home crowd, went ahead with a brace from Mohd Safiq Rahim (6th minute penalty and 58th min freekick) and Indra Putra Mahayuddin (48th).
Thailand staged a comeback with goals from Charyl Chappuis (81st) and Chanathip Songkrasin (87th).
Dollah was forced to make one change to the starting line-up by bringing in Mohd Afif Amiruddin to replace centreback Mohd Fadhli Shas who was down with fever.
The packed stadium reverberated when midfielder Safiq scored his fifth goal of the competition from the spot after Norshahrul Idlan Talaha was pushed by Tanaboon Kesarat inside the box.
Dollah had to reshuffle the line-up two minutes later when winger Mohd Azamuddin Akil came out the worst from a clash with Thailand goalkeeper Kawin Thamsatchanan and was replaced by striker Mohd Safee Sali.
The heavy downpour three hours before the kick-off proved to be a blessing for Malaysia as the Thais struggled to play their short passing game.
Nevertheless, the Thais strung together several goal moves but squandered their chances in front of goal.
Veteran winger Indra doubled Malaysia’s lead with a header right at the end of the first half to put the match 2-2 on aggregate.
Thailand started the second half aggressively and put the Malaysian backline under pressure.
However, Malaysian skipper Mohd Shukor Adan and company stopped the Thai attack led by hotshot Adisak Kraisorn.
Then the stadium erupted again when Safiq’s freekick in the 58th minute sailed past the Thai defence into the far corner of the goal for Malaysia to lead 3-0 and 3-2 on aggregate.
Then disaster struck in the 69th minute after Afif picked up an injury and was replaced by Mohd Muslim Ahmad.
Indra was the next casualty and was replaced by Gary Steven Robbat in the 77th minute.
The forced substitution curtailed Malaysia’s movement and gave Thailand the impetus to get back into the game.
And they did it in style with Charyl pouncing on a loose ball to score the all-important away goal. Score for the night was then 3-1 and 3-3 on aggregate with the Thais having the advantage on away-goal rule.
Midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin killed off any chances of a Malaysian fightback when he rifled in a shot from the edge of the box.
With the win, Thailand’s coach Kiatisuk Senamuang wrote himself into the record book as the first person to win the biennial competition as a coach and a player.
Safiq claimed the Golden Boot Award with six goals but it’s scant reward after the heartbreaking loss.
