Action, Tigers!
Farizal keeps Harimau Malaya walking the talk
Goalkeeper Farizal Marlias will keep Malaysia walking the talk after saying the Harimau Malaya will pull no punches against Vietnam in the AFF Suzuki Cup second leg final in Hanoi tonight. “We don’t want to say much. The aim here is to win the match and bring the trophy back home,” he said. “We’ve done it before. I’ve the belief and confidence in this side.” Former national coach Dollah Salleh is cheering Tan Cheng Hoe’s men on to win the Cup. “I can see the players’ commitment from the way they came back to hold Vietnam 2-2 in the first leg. They must be positive in Hanoi, they must believe they can beat Vietnam in front of their own fans.”
HANOI: Less talk, more action.
The Malaysian football team have made it clear that they are in Vietnam to win the AFF Suzuki Cup – and they want their actions to speak louder than their words when they clash with Vietnam at the MyDinh Stadium here tonight.
National goalkeeper Farizal Marlias said Malaysia would not pull their punches in the second-leg final.
“We don’t want to say much. The aim here is to win the match and bring the trophy back home. In football, nothing is impossible,” said Farizal.
“We have done it before. I’ve the belief and confidence in this current side.”
When Malaysia last faced Vietnam in the knockout stages, they won 5-4 on aggregate in the two-leg semi-final of the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup.
In the first leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Malaysia were trailing 0-2 in the first 30 minutes of the match but came back strongly to hold Vietnam 2-2.
“We were trailing but the players’ indomitable spirit saw the team make a strong comeback. I want that same spirit to continue in Hanoi,” said the 32-year-old Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) custodian.
Malaysia coach Tan Cheng Hoe said he would be fielding his best side in Hanoi.
And he was happy that his key players – leftback Muhammad Syazwan Andik Mohd Ishak, rightback Muhammad Syahmi Safari and centre- back Mohamad Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak – will return for the crucial match.
“It’s good to have them back. Syazwan, Syahmi and Aidil are important players and will surely strengthen our defence. This is a do-or-die match for us, and we want to win it for the fans in Hanoi and also in Malaysia.”
The temperature in Hanoi is expected to dip to 12°C and there have been questions whether the Malaysian players can keep up with Vietnam’s high intensity in such conditions – but the Harimau Malaya have promised to turn up the heat on the hosts. Malaysia need to win or get a higher-scoring draw to win the Cup.
Malaysia last won the Cup in 2010 under Datuk K. Rajagopal and their last final appearance was in 2014 when they lost 4-3 on aggregate to favourites Thailand.