KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s dream of winning the AFF Cup were dashed in Hanoi on Saturday.
Following the 2-2 draw in the final first leg in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday, Vietnam notched a 1-0 win at the My Dinh Stadium to win 3-2 on aggregate and claim the title for only the second time.
Yet again, Malaysia had more possession but failed to take advantage of their dominance.
It was an aggressive first half with both Vietnam and Malaysia receiving three yellow card each.
The home side took the lead after six minutes through Nguyen Anh Duc for his fourth goal in the competition.
Anh Duc volleyed a Nguyen Quang Hai looping cross from the left past Malaysian goalkeeper Farizal Marlias. The visitors, however, should have done better as their defenders were guilty of ball watching.
Malaysia conjured up five attempts with one on target through right-back Syahmi Safari in the first half.
However, Vietnam goalkeeper Dang Van Lam was alert and tipped Syahmi’s attempt, from the edge of the penalty box, over his crossbar.
Gambia-born Mohamadou Sumareh also came close in the first half but his near-perfect back heel through a sea of Vietnam legs rolled just wide of the far post.
The home team, who relied on counter attacks, had four attempts with two on target before the breather.
Vietnam’s Van Lam, Nguyen Trong Hoang and Tran Dinh Trong were yellow carded by Iranian referee Ali Reza Faghani while Zaquan Adha Radzak, Shahrul Saad and Syamer Kutty Abba were also cautioned for fouls in the opening 45 minutes.
Seven minutes into the second half, winger Sumareh again tested the Vietnam defence and was unlucky not to score. His header was parried away by Vietnam keeper Van Lam.
The Golden Dragons then resorted to defending their goal in the remaining minutes, only allowing Malaysia to try from outside their penalty box. The home side were also guilty of time-wasting which frustrated the Malaysian players.
Centre-back Shahrul received his marching orders in the fourth minute of stoppage time for a foul.
Despite the defeat, Malaysia can stand tall as critics did not expect Tan Cheng Hoe’s side to go far in the tournament.