Football

Malaysia crash out in AFF Cup semi-finals

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia were kicked out by Thailand in the AFF Cup semi-finals after suffering a 3-0 loss in the second leg at the Thammasat Stadium in Bangkok today.

Malaysia failed to capitalise on their 1-0 first leg lead as their defensive game collapsed after much pressure from the War Elephants.

Defending champions Thailand punched through the Malaysian defence three times with goals from Teerasil Dangda (19th minute), Bordin Phala (55th) and Adisak Kraison (71st).

Thailand will meet Vietnam in the two-legged final on Jan 13 and Jan 16.

Malaysia coach Kim Pan Gon made four changes to his line-up, bringing in winger Hakim Hassan, right-back Azam Azmi Murad, left-back Fazly Mazlan and midfielder Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi for V. Ruventhiran, Quentin Cheng, Lee Tuck and Safawi Rasid.

Thailand made only one change, opting for Kampol Pathomakkakul instead of goalkeeper Kittipong Phuthawchueak who played in the 1-0 loss to Malaysia in the first leg at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last Saturday.

The War Elephant started the match brightly with Theerathon Bunmathan pulling the strings from midfield while Harimau Malaya struggled to gain a foothold despite needing just an away goal to put Thailand under pressure.

Thailand's pressing game paid off with veteran Teerasil scoring his sixth goal of the tournament with a header off Theerathon's cross, and wiping out Malaysia's advantage from the first leg.

In the second half, Thailand brought in striker Adisak Kraison for Teerasil while Malaysia replaced the ineffective Hakim and Mukhairi with Lee Tuck and Ruventhiran.

However, before the Malaysians could settle down, Thailand doubled their lead 10 minutes from the restart with Bordin's strike from inside the box.

And Adisak put the game beyond Malaysia's reach after pouncing on his own rebound off the post in the 71st minute to slam home.

Pan Gon tried to turn the match around by bringing in attackers Safawi Rasid, Sergio Aguero and Haqimi Azim Rosli but this failed to work as Thailand shored up their defence and held on for the win.

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