MALAYSIA IN FINAL OF AFF SUZUKI CUP 2010

With the stalemate, the Malaysians made the final of the biennial championship for the first time in 14 years following the 2-0 advantage they had in Kuala Lumpur which confirmed their passage on a 2-0 aggregate.

Malaysian chief coach K. Rajagobal said afterwards that whie the football tonight might not be entertaining, they totally deserved the result they got.

“I just cannot express what I feel at this time. The players showed the spirit of the real ‘harimau’ – the Malaysian tiger. We knew that it was going to be a tough match but we were confident and we were disciplined in defence with the players playing to instruction,” said Rajagobal.

“The first 15 to 20 minutes was crucial as we knew that if we had concede a goal, then it will spell trouble for us. But the two centrebacks played real well and considering that they are just under-21 years old, it speak volume of their future.

“I told the defence tonight that we must play simple and while it might look ugly, we just have to make all the clearance, no matter what. The captain (Safiq Rahim) is an offensive player but tonight, he was told that he need to play deeper which he did.”

The onus was always going to be on Vietnam and in front of a sell-out crowd of 40,000, the home team did not waste any time in going forward from the very first whistle off South Korean referee Kim Sang-woo.

The return of Nguyen Trong Hoang gave more bite on the left flank as he made Malaysian leftback Mohd Asraruddin Putra Omar work double time in ensuring that crosses were not made into the Malaysian box.

In the ninth, Trong Hoang shot through a sea of legs but there were no takers at the far post.

Barely a minute later, tragedy struck the Vietnam side when Phan Van Tai Em had to be stretchered out with a suspected broken arm following a clash with Malaysian’s Mohd Safee Sali.

Phan Van was quickly replaced by Le Tan Tai.

The change for Tan Tai did not disrupt Vietnam’s offensive play where his double shot within the next ten minutes saw Malaysian custodian Khairul Fahmi Che Mat rising to the occasion.

Malaysia’s only chance in the first half was a curling shot from Norshahrul Idlan Talaha which narrowly missed the upright.

Vietnam did not let up in the second half but they just can’t seem to find a way past Khairul as he stood firm to frustrate the hometers.

In the 62nd minute of play, Vietnam should have gone in front but off a cross from Pham Thanh Luong, the lanky Nguyen Viet Thang could only head the ball onto the path of Khairul.

And barely ten minutes later, Vietnam’s frustration was complete when Thanh Luong picked up his second yellow card in the game for diving for which referee Sang-woo had little choice but to send him out of the game for good.

In the closing stages, Malaysia created their best chance of the game but after breaking through Safiq’s effort came off Vietnam keeper Duong Hong Son instead.

“I’m responsible for the loss, don’t criticise the players. If you need to criticise anyone, criticise me,” said Vietnam chief coach Henrique Calisto at the post match press conference.

“We did not lose here, we lost in Kuala Lumpur and I think that we were the better team over both legs. Sometimes, we win and sometimes we lose – that’s life. Show me a coach who never loses.

“The loss of Tan Tai was unfortunate although I agreed with the decision of the referee in giving Thanh Luong the red card.”

VIETNAM
Duong Hong Son, Doan Viet Cuong, Le Phuoc Tu, Tran Dinh Dong, Vu Nhu Thanh (Nguyen Quang Hai 71st), Nguyen Viet Thang (Nguyen Anh Duc 69th), Nguyen Trong Hoang, Nguyen Minh Phuong, Nguyen Vu Phong, Pham Thanh Luong, Phan Van Tai Em (Le Tan Tai 14th).
Yellow: Doan Viet Cuong (73rd), Le Phuoc Tu (56th), Pham Thanh Luong (55th, 73rd)
Red: Pham Thanh Luong (73rd)

MALAYSIA
Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Mohd Sabre Mat Abu (Mahalli Jasuli 85th), Mohd Asraruddin Putra Omar, Safiq Rahim (Mohd Amri Yahyah 80th), Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Mohd Safee Sali, Amar Rohidan, S. Kunanlan, Mohd Amirulhadi Zainal (Mohd Ashari Samsudin 74th), Mohd Muslim Ahmad, Mohd Fadhli Mohd Shas.
Yellow: Mohd Amirulhadi Zainal (47th)

AFF SUZUKI CUP 2010, SEMI-FINALS FIXTURES and RESULTS

First-leg – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (BUKIT JALIL NATIONAL STADIUM, KUALA LUMPUR)

15 Dec MALAYSIA 2 VIETNAM 0

First-leg – Jakarta, Indonesia (GELORA BUNG KARNO STADIUM, JAKARTA)

16 Dec PHILIPPINES 0 INDONESIA 1

Second-leg – Hanoi, Vietnam (MY DINH NATIONAL STADIUM, HANOI)

18 Dec VIETNAM 0 MALAYSIA 0 (MALAYSIA win on 2-0 aggregate)

Second-leg – Jakarta, Indonesia (GELORA BUNG KARNO STADIUM, JAKARTA)

19 Dec Indonesia vs Philippines (2000hrs)