AFF Suzuki Cup holders Vietnam failed to score in their home semifinal Saturday against Malaysia in Hanoi and stopped their campaign as their opponents won 2-0 on aggregate to go through to the finals.
Malaysia goal keeper Khairul Fahmi was unbeatable in the game at My Dinh National Stadium in front of more than 40,000 spectators, who came with the hope of seeing their team able to score at least twice.
The home side dominated the match in both tempo and ball possession but Fahmi denied all of their efforts. It was just a one-way game as Malaysia, who scored two goals at Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday night, played defensively.
Vietnam midfielder Pham Thanh Luong was sent off with his second yellow card 20 minutes before time as he fell down in the penalty area when Malaysian defender Kunanlan did not touch him. South Korean referee Kim Sang-woo decided a second yellow card.
Ten Vietnamese started to play against 11 Malaysians, who already held two goals in advance. Vietnam coach Henrique Calisto replaced striker Nguyen Viet Thang with Nguyen Anh Duc, and added forward Nguyen Quang Hai to the front line. Just three defenders were at the back.
Like before, Vietnam continued to dominate but failed to convert chances they created.
Edging out Vietnam, Malaysia will play either Indonesia or the Philippines in the finals.
This year’s biennial ASEAN championship will see new champions as none of the former champions reached the finals.
The tournament started in 1996. Thailand were crowned three times like Singapore, while Vietnam won for the first time two years ago, also under Portuguese coach Henrique Calisto.
“We don’t score goals and we lose,” he said at the press meeting after the Saturday game.
“If we score one goal, it’ll be a different story. Football is like this.
“I don't think we had any luck in these two legs. It’s not a lucky year this year,” he added.
Malaysia coach K. Rajagobal praised his men at the press meeting, “The boys have progressed, they are confident and I don't need to motivate them.”
“As a coach, I’m very, very happy. I can’t express my emotions at this moment, especially with this young squad.”
Malaysia lost 1-5 to Indonesia in their Group A opener. They then held a 0-0 draw with three-time champions Thailand and beat Laos 5-1 to go through to the semifinals to play Group B winners Vietnam.
In the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Laos, Malaysia also under Rajagobal lost to Vietnam, coached by Calisto, 1-3 in the group stage but won 1-0 in the final to secure the gold medal.
