NORSHAHRUL Idlan Talaha is all fired up for revenge when Malaysia take on Thailand in the AFF Cup final, first leg at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok today.
The 28-year-old had gone 14 months without an international goal before he netted in the 4-2 win over Vietnam in last week’s semi-final, return leg in Hanoi.
The goal has given the Besut-born added confidence ahead of the final. In 2012, Norshahrul scored in the 1-1 draw with Thailand in the semi-final, first leg in Kuala Lumpur before the 10-man Malaysian team lost 2-0 in the return leg in Bangkok.
“I was also on a goal drought in 2012 before scoring against Thailand. I always give my 100 per cent in all matches. It does not matter whether I score but the goal against Vietnam has given me the self-motivation to find the net again,” said Norshahrul in Bangkok yesterday.
“I’ve not tasted a win over Thailand, apart from the Sea Games, since I became an international player. It is something I want to achieve for the first time in this final.”
Norshahrul, the three-time Most Valuable Player in the M-League, had a poor season with Darul Ta’zim last season, scoring only two goals but the 28-year-old hardly figured in Bojan Hodak’s plans as the coach preferred foreign strikers.
However, the striker, who scored his first international goal in the 5-0 thrashing of Lesotho five years ago, hopes to resurrect his career with Armed Forces next season.
Norshahrul also touched on his telepathic understanding with striker Indra Putra Mahayuddin and Badhri Radzi in the AFF Cup.
“We were teammates when Kelantan won the treble in 2012, so the understanding does help us. We played together in Hanoi and I did really well that day,” added Norshahrul, who is expected to partner Indra in attack in Bangkok today. By Ajitpal Singh