Cheng Hoe hails team's character as key to victory
BANGKOK: Harimau Malaya head coach Tan Cheng Hoe has attributed his team’s great character in fighting back from going behind twice against Thailand in Wednesday night’s semi-final, second-leg clash as the key to them qualifying for the AFF Suzuki Cup final.
He was full of praise for his men after they held the fancied Thais 2-2 at the Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok tonight.
The draw, coupled with the goalless stalemate in the first leg at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, on Dec 1, proved enough for Malaysia to qualify for the final on the away goal rule.
“My men held firm in the face of a fierce Thai onslaught in the first half and then showed great tactical discipline to stay calm, control the game and go forward,” he said.
“The first 45 minutes was all about absorbing everything the Thais threw at us. My men held firm in the face of a fierce Thai onslaught. The second half was about staying cool and composed and attacking at the right moment.
“The second half also saw my men show great tactical nous until the final whistle.”
Cheng Hoe said he was also calm when Thailand were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes of the second half, adding that he had faith in goalkeeper Mohd Farizal Marlias.
He said that he had told Farizal to pay study the Thai players’ penalty kicks.
“I was calm and confident when the penalty was awarded because I knew there was a big possibility that Farizal would have saved Adisak Kraisorn’s spot kick,” he told the post-match press conference here tonight.
The penalty was awarded by Jordanian referee Adham Mohammad Tumah Makhadmeh when Muhammad Syahmi Safari handled the ball in the box in time added on in the second half.
Luckily, Adisak skied his shot, much to the delight of the 3,000odd Malaysian supporters in the stadium.
Malaysia will meet either Vietnam or the Philippines in the final, with the first leg scheduled to be held at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil on Dec 11. The return leg will be on Dec 15.
Meanwhile in KUALA LUMPUR, Football Association of Malaysia president (FAM) Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin has issued a timely reminder to the Harimau Malaya squad after they qualified for the AFF Suzuki Cup final.
“There’s one more hurdle to cross, so stay focused and give it your best,” he said after watching head coach Tan Cheng Hoe’s men draw 2-2 with Thailand in the semi-final, second-leg tie at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on Wednesday night.
He said this on the official FAM Facebook page.
Malaysia, who drew 0-0 with Thailand in the first leg at the National Stadium, Bukit Jali, on Dec 1, advanced to the final on the away goal rule.
Hamidin said their task was not over yet as they now set their sights on winning the Suzuki Cup for the second time since 2010.
He also thanked the supporters, especially the die-hard Ultras Malaya, who were present at the stadium in Bangkok tonight.
Malaysia will meet either Vietnam or the Philippines in the final. - Bernama