AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup: Dream over as Malaysia fall to Thailand

Bernama
10 Jan 2023 11:25pm
Malaysia's captain Faisal Halim (right) faces off with Thai counterpart Theerathon Bunmathan in their AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup final second leg encounter at the Thamassat University Stadium last night. - Pic: Bernama
Malaysia's captain Faisal Halim (right) faces off with Thai counterpart Theerathon Bunmathan in their AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup final second leg encounter at the Thamassat University Stadium last night. - Pic: Bernama
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PATHUM THANI - Defending champions Thailand defeated Malaysia 3-0 in the second leg of their semi-final meeting at the Thammasat University Stadium here tonight to set up a repeat of the 2020 final against Vietnam in the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup.

The victory gave the 'War Elephants' a 3-1 victory on aggregate, overcoming the 1-0 deficit with Malaysia winning the first leg in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

Thailand got off the mark with a pinpoint header from prolific striker Teerasil Dangda in the 19th minute, a strike which levelled the aggregate scoreline to open up the game with both sides remaining cautious while also exploring breakthroughs.

Malaysia at that point, went in search of an away goal which would have put their hosts on the backfoot, needing to score three, but the closest they came was from a Darren Lok header from close range in the 36th minute which was palmed out by goalkeeper Kampol Pathomakkakul.

Thai head coach Alexandre Polking's decision to field Kampol instead of first choice Saranon Anuin in goal did not cause much issue as Malaysia hardly managed to test the Thai goal.
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The second half started with Thailand looking the more likely to score, holding posession and piling on the pressure on Malaysia's goal, when in the 55th minute winger Bordin Pala struck their second goal to seize the initiative. At that point, a Malaysian goal would still have sent them through to the final on away goals.

But substitute Adisak Kraisorn, recently signed by Malaysian Super League side Terengganu FC, pounced on a rebound off the post to slot home from close range with Malaysian goalkeeper Ahmad Shihan Hazmi Mohamed diving in vain in the 71st minute.

The victory ended Thailand's run of six games without a win against Malaysia since 2018 and will now seek their seventh AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup title when they meet Vietnam in the first leg of the final at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi on Friday and host the return leg on Monday. - BERNAMA