Malaysia Thailand

KUALA LUMPUR: Birthday boy Mohamad Faisal Abdul Halim saved the day for Malaysia with a fine opportunistic goal as they were made to toil for a 1-0 wi...

The Harimau Malaya stunned the more fancied War Elephants in the 11th minute when defender Sharul Nazeem Zulpakar sent a raking pass to overlapping left-back V. Thailand, however, came back after the breather and continued to pile on the pressure on the Malaysian team, who found it difficult to get out of their own half most of the time. However, it was Malaysia who drew first blood when Mohamad Faisal got to the ball first off a header by Ruventhiran in the 11th minute.

KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand will have an uphill climb in the second leg of their Asean Football Federation (AFF) semi-final after a 1-0 away loss to Malaysia on ...

Thailand keeper Kittipong found himself in no man’s land in the 55th minute as he came out to punch away a free-kick. They came the closest to scoring shortly after the start of the second half when Teerasil headed a Suphanan Bureerat cross against the woodwork. Pansa Hemviboon almost gave the Thais a lead just five minutes in as Ekanit Panya’s cross from a short corner was headed wide by the unmarked Thai centre-back.

Advantage Malaysia as they edge Thailand 1-0 in the first leg of the Asean Football Federation Cup semifinal.

PETALING JAYA: Harimau Malaya edged defending champions Thailand 1-0 in a pulsating semi-final first leg in the AFF Mitsubishi Cup.

The Malaysians need to avoid defeat in the second leg to book a spot in the final against either Vietnam or Indonesia. The Malaysians then had to put in a valiant defensive display to prevent the Thais from equalising. A poacher's finish from Faisal Halim in the 11th minute gave Malaysia the slender win at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday (Jan 7).