Heroic tigers reach AFF final
MEMORIES of the painful defeat in 2014 were all but forgotten when Malaysia produced a heroic performance at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok yesterday to knock out Thailand in the AFF Cup semifinal second leg.
In a nerve-jangling battle, Malaysia twice came from behind to force a 2-2 draw, and eliminated defending champions Thailand on away goals. The first leg at Bukit Jalil had ended 0-0.
It was such a ding-dong battle that Malaysia needed a dramatic penalty miss by Thailand’s much feared hitman Adisak Kraisorn in injury time to find themselves still alive and kicking for the AFF Cup final against Vietnam or the Philippines.
The penalty was awarded after Syahmi was adjudged to have pushed a Thai player. Somehow, Adisak blazed his shot over the bar in the last kick of the match.
Coach Tan Cheng Hoe was forced to field Nazirul Naim for the injured Syazwan Andik but otherwise, he kept faith with the 10 others that started in the first leg.
Thailand were expected to dominate the return leg at home, and it would seem that way at first when midfielder Thitipan Puangchan scored their opening goal in the 21st minute.
But Syahmi Safari hit back with a sensational right footed shot from outside the box to level at 1-1 until half time.
The second half saw Malaysia conceding a free kick which Thailand scored through a header by Pansa Hemviboon following a set-piece.
But Malaysia’s veteran striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha scored that all important equalising goal in the 71st minute from the centre of the box.