Malaysia edge Thailand in first AFF semi-final
Thailand’s Suphanan Bureerat is pursued by Malaysia’s Faisal Halim (left) and Darren Lok during the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 semi-finalmatch at Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. (Photo: AFP)
KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand will have an uphill climb in the second leg oftheir Asean Football Federation (AFF) semi-final after a 1-0 away loss toMalaysia on Saturday.
Malaysia found the all-important goal against the run of play in the 11thminute as Faisal Halim beat Thai keeper Kittipong Phuthawchueak toscore his fourth goal of the tournament, celebrating his 25th birthday with the crowd of 59,000 at Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
The second half witnessed Malaysia having a goal ruled out whileThailand’s appeal for a late penalty was turned down too, meaning the sixtime champions tasted their first defeat in the AFF Championship since2016.
Going into the match Thailand were intent on getting an away goal, whichwould have helped them in their second-leg match at Thammasat Stadiumin Bangkok on Tuesday.
The defending champions exerted pressure on the hosts straight from thekickoff. Pansa Hemviboon almost gave the Thais a lead just five minutes inas Ekanit Panya’s cross from a short corner was headed wide by theunmarked Thai centre-back.
Four minutes later, Sarach Yooyen’s delivery seemed destined for TeerasilDangda’s head, but Malaysian keeper Syihan Hazmi came off his line topunch the cross away from danger.
The War Elephants held an edge in possession in the first half, but hardlytroubled the Malaysian defence. They came the closest to scoring shortlyafter the start of the second half when Teerasil headed a Suphanan
Bureerat cross against the woodwork.Thailand keeper Kittipong found himself in no man’s land in the 55thminute as he came out to punch away a free-kick. But the ball bounced offDominic Tan’s back into the goal only for the referee to disallow the goalfor a foul in the build-up after much deliberation.
In the other semi-final, Indonesia and Vietnam have a date in Hanoi onMonday after grinding out a on Friday.
The winners of the semi-finals will square off in a two-leg championshipfinal to be played on Jan 13 and 16
Source - Bangkok Post
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