Advantage Dragons
Vietnam hold away goal advantage over Malaysia
Malaysia came back from 2-0 down to force a 2-2 draw against Vietnam in the first leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last night. Two quick goals in the 22nd and 25th minutes by the Dragons shocked the slumbering Harimau Malaya into action. Shahrul Saad narrowed the score in the 36th minute before Safawi Rasid netted the equaliser in the 61st minute. The visitors hold the advantage going into the return leg in Hanoi on Saturday. Only a win will ensure Malaysia return with the crown.
KUALA LUMPUR: The national football team have a mountain to climb in the second leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup final after being held to a 2-2 draw by Vietnam in the first leg at home.
The Harimau Malaya were forced to rally from behind with goals from Shahrul Saad (36th minute) and Safawi Rasid (61st) after Vietnam raced ahead with goals from Nguyen Huy Hung (22nd minute) and Pham Duc Huy (25th) at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last night.
Malaysia coach Tan Cheng Hoe made only two changes from the line-up that knocked out defending champions Thailand in the semi-final last week.
Defender Amirul Azhan Aznan made his debut in place of the suspended first choice rightback Syahmi Safari while Irfan Zakaria made his first start replacing the injured seasoned centreback Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak.
After taking a cautious approach in the first 10 minutes, both teams stepped on the gas but it was the visitors who looked more dangerous with their fast attacking game.
And Vietnam struck first blood when midfielder Huy Hung pounced quickly on a clearance to score in the 22nd minute.
Three minutes later, Vietnam inflicted another blow to Malaysia through another fast attacking move when an unmarked Duc Huy unleashed a thunderous shot outside the box to give them a comfortable two-goal cushion for the second leg.
The two quick blows snapped Malaysia from their slumber and they doubled their efforts to get back into the game.
Centreback Shahrul powered in a header from close range off Syamer Kutty Abba to claw back into the game in the 36th minute.
However, Malaysia’s momentum was interrupted when leftback Nazirul Naim Che Hashim picked up an injury and was replaced by debutant Adam Nor Azlin in the 41st minute and the scoreline remained 2-1 until the first-half break.
Malaysia started the second half with more urgency and continued to pressure the Vietnamese defence for an equaliser but the Golden Dragon’s backline led by Que Ngoc Hai proved to be a tough nut to crack.
Cheng Hoe brought in attacker Syafiq Ahmad for Amirul in the 60th minute, and it worked wonders.
The breakthrough came for Malaysia in the 61st minute after winger Safawi finally broke his duck in the AFF Suzuki Cup with his trademark freekick from the edge of the box sailing in for a 2-2 draw.
Cheng Hoe then brought in the nippy Akhyar Rashid for Norshahrul Idlan Talaha in the 71st minute to pile pressure on the Vietnam’s defence.
But a solid defending from Vietnam saw them hold on to bring a comfortable two-away goal to the second leg at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi on Saturday.