AFF Cup 2014 first leg final: No surprises?

(Baonghean) - Surprisingly defeating Vietnam in the second leg, the Malaysian team will play the final match against Thailand at 7pm tonight (December 17). In the qualifying round, Malaysia, despite taking the lead, still let Coach Kiatisuk's team overcome with a score of 3-2. Although they really want to get revenge for this debt, when the match takes place at Thailand's Rajamangala Stadium, it will be difficult for Dollah Salleh and his team to once again create an earthquake, like what happened after 90 minutes at My Dinh National Stadium.

A goal attack during the group stage match of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2014 between Malaysia and Thailand.

In the framework of this year's Southeast Asian Football Championship, because they were in the same group, Thailand and Malaysia faced each other in the second round. That match took place in the context that Malaysia was forced to win after a disappointing draw against the team considered the weakest in the group - Myanmar. In an open match, Malaysia took the lead twice but were equalized both times. Not only that, in the last minute of the second half, Chanathip Songkrasin scored the final goal, making the score 3-2 in favor of the Thai team. According to statistics, from 1996 to now, within the framework of the AFF Cup, Malaysia and Thailand have faced each other a total of 10 times and Thailand has the overwhelming advantage with 6 wins, 2 draws and only 2 losses.

However, in recent years, Malaysia is the opponent that Thailand probably wants to avoid the most, because they have made great progress in both expertise and battle spirit compared to the general level of regional football. This they have proven in a more convincing way through the match with the Vietnamese team at My Dinh National Stadium. Although they were under a lot of pressure when losing 1-2 right at the "holy land" of Shan Alam in the first leg, Coach Dollah Salleh's team did not lose their will and determination. Malaysia even created an earthquake in the regional football village when they won 4-2 in the second leg to win a ticket to the final. Having twice slipped through the "narrow door", it is not difficult to understand why in a statement to the press before the first leg final, Coach Dollah Salleh confidently declared that he would defeat Thailand to win the championship. However, that is still the story after both matches, and in the first leg taking place at 7pm tonight, Coach Dollah Salleh will face real difficulties when his force is being depleted by injuries and suspensions. While Captain Adnan Shukur is injured, the equally experienced striker Safee Sali is also at risk of being absent for the same reason.

Meanwhile, the home team with a squad of 9X players entered the tournament not highly rated, but they made fans in the land of pagodas ecstatic with the victory, and most of their opponents were "convinced". In the group stage, coach Kiatisuk and his team got 9 absolute points after 3 wins. There was a bit of difficulty for coach Kiatisuk's young team in the first leg of the semi-final against the Philippines. However, in the second leg, that team did not give the visiting team Philippines any chance and won convincingly 3-0 to advance to the final.

Interestingly, Kiatisuk and Dollah Salleh were supposed to face each other in the 1996 AFF Cup final as players, but unfortunately Dollah Salleh was injured and could not play, while Kiatisuk was the striker who scored the only goal to bring victory to Thailand. This defeat was the motivation and determination for Coach Dollah Salleh's students to "pay back" their teacher. But for the Thai team, although they are in a generational transition period with the 9X generation of players, under the leadership of the once famous striker of regional football Kiatisuk, his students have shown maturity and outstanding courage to be present in this final match.

Very confident after 2 times passing through the "narrow door" miraculously to win the right to play in the final, but when the opponent is Thailand with home field advantage and a squad of young, enthusiastic players, steadfast in the face of big matches, so analysts believe that there will be no surprise named Malaysia.

South Scene