How Malaysia Avenged Their Loss Against Vietnam To Qualify For The Suzuki Cup Final
The Harimau Malaya remarkably turned the table on the hosts in this comeback win.
By Darian Goh — 12 Dec 2014, 03:20 PM — Updated almost 10 years ago
Just about 12 days ago, Malaysia qualified for the AFF Suzuki Cup semi-finals by beating neighbourhood country Singapore
On 11 December 2014, Malaysia then faced against Vietnam in a two-legged tie with the first one being played in Malaysia. Despite the home support, Malaysia lost the game 1-2.
Some Malaysian fans did not take the loss well and marred the friendly game by assaulting some Vietnamese fans
Tensions were high after that, especially since hackers who are believed to be Vietnamese retaliated by defacing the FAM website with threats
However, come match day between both Malaysia and Vietnam, both set of fans set an exemplary standard by displaying messages of peace and friendship
The match started out brightly for the Malaysians, who scored the first goal in just 4 minutes with a penalty. Just 12 minutes later, Malaysia made it 2-0 with a goal thanks to Norshahrul Idlan Tahala.
Skipper Safiq Rahim scored the first goal for Malaysia after being awarded a penalty at the 4th minute while Norshahrul Idlan Tahala sinks in another at the 16th minute.
themalaysianinsider.com
Trailing 2-1 on aggregate from the first leg, the Tigers overturned the deficit with a Safiq Rahim penalty and an opportunistic strike by Norshahrul Idlan Talaha in the first 16 minutes.
The match was only three minutes old, when Kunanlan intercepted a pass on the right. He passed to Azamuddin Akil, who crossed to Indra Putra, arriving late into the box. His movement caught the home defence off guard, and Que Ngoc Hai took him down from behind. A yellow card was shown to Que, while Malaysia were awarded a penalty. Safiq Rahim stepped up and converted, but the referee ordered it to be retaken. Calm as you like, Safiq sent his penalty into the same spot yet again, and put his team 1-0 up.
Vietnam had a penalty of their own, who scored to make it 2-1. However, one own goal and poor defending put Malaysia up 4-1 at half time.
Vietnam finally fired back when Le Conq Vinh converted a penalty at the 22nd minute. However, Malaysia pulled further away 7 minutes later when Dinh Tien Thanh scored an own goal. To sweeten the night, Muhammad Shukor Adnan scored a fourth for Malaysia minutes before the halftime whistle.
themalaysianinsider.com
Vietnam then narrowed the deficit through Cong Vinhm, who converted a spot kick after Amri fouled a Vietnam player in the box in the 21st minute. Malaysia restored their two-goal lead in the 29th minute when Tien Thanh deflected Indra’s cross into his own goal. Skipper Shukor put the game beyond Vietnam’s reach two minutes before the break when he nodded in Mohd Fadhli Shas’ flick-on.
thestar.com.myAlthough Vietnam pulled one back to make the score 4-2, it was not enough to bring them to the final, having lost 5-4 on aggregate
Le tried to revive hope for Vietnam with a goal in the second half of the match but Malaysia held on tight to win on a 5-4 aggregate.
themalaysianinsider.com
It definitely seemed to not be Vietnam’s day after Cong Vinh headed a cross from Nguyen Van Bien right into Farizal’s arms with 15 minutes left to play. But the captain electrified the crowd in the My Dinh Stadium in the 79th minute with his second goal of the night. Hong Quan’s lofted ball through the middle was not cleared by Shukor, and Le smashed it past Farizal gleefully to make it 2-4 on the night, and 3-5 on aggregate.
And it resulted in Malaysia stunning Vietnam for a 4-2 win in the AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final second-leg match at the My Dinh National Stadium on Thursday.
Goals by Mohd Safiq Rahim (5th pen), Norshahrul Idlan Talaha (15th), Dinh Tien Thanh (29th own goal) and Shukor Adan (43rd) ensured Malaysia a 5-4 aggregate win and set up a showdown against Thailand next week.
Malaysia will now meet with Thailand in the two-legged final. Thailand had earlier beaten Malaysia 3-2 in the group stage.
