Jason Dasey
MALAYSIA’S upcoming semi-final against Thailand in the AFF Suzuki Cup revives a rivalry that reached a memorable climax four years ago.
The two nations will face off at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday night before the second leg at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium on Dec 5.
In 2014, the same venues hosted an action-packed final that saw Dollah Salleh’s Malaysians come within minutes of causing a massive upset against the hot favourite Thais, under Kiatisuk ‘Zico’ Senamuang.
After Thailand secured a regulation 2-0 home victory in the first leg, Malaysia stunned the War Elephants in Kuala Lumpur by racing to a 3-0 lead before the hour, putting them 3-2 ahead on aggregate, after two strikes from captain Safiq Rahim and a goal in first-half added time by unpredictable striker Indra Putra Mahayuddin.
It wasn’t until the 82nd minute that Swiss-born midfielder Charyl Chappuis rescued the game with an away goal that edged the visitors ahead before Chanathip Songkrasin made sure of a 4-3 aggregate win by netting a second with three minutes remaining.
Four years later, Chanathip and other Japan-based players Theerathon Bunmathan and Teerasil Dangda are missing, in addition to experienced midfielder Sarach Yooyen and commanding goalkeeper Kawin Thamsatchanan. Thirteen of the squad appeared in January’s AFC U23 Championship in China, with the majority winning the Southeast Asian Games (SEA) Games gold medal – against Malaysia in Malaysia – the year before.
The 2018 side doesn’t have the potency or aura of the triumphant 2014 and 2016 teams, and are a more defensively structured under Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac, much to the chagrin of their fans. Even so, they do have match winners in teenage striker Supachai Jaided and seasoned forward Adisak Kraisorn.
Adisak has stepped up in the absence of Teerasil, having made his international debut in 2013 at the age of 22, and leads the tournament goal-scoring charts with eight.
Adisak and Supachai, who turns 20 on Saturday, have won all the plaudits, but Sanrawat Dechmitr has effortlessly stepped into the void left by the absent Chanathip to pull the strings from midfield.
Another to shine has been Bangkok United utility Pokklaw Anan whose long-range equaliser against Asian champions Australia stunned the Melbourne crowd in a 2018 World Cup qualifier last year.
In last Sunday’s final group game against Singapore in Bangkok, Thailand were happy to absorb pressure from the visitors, having capitalised on two early defensive errors, before adding a late third through Adisak in an comfortable 3-0 victory. On Nov 17, they brushed aside Indonesia 4-2 in another commanding performance at the Rajamangala Stadium.
Compared to the nothing-to-lose veterans of the 2014 campaign, Malaysia’s squad could also be viewed as less exciting. But under coach Tan Cheng Hoe, they have pressed high, and shown a willingness to play out from the back, employing a 4-2-3-1 system.
Kuala Lumpur forward Zaquan Adha has done well holding the ball up, with Gambian-born Mohamadou Sumareh and the technically gifted Safawi Rasid providing width, and the evergreen Norshahrul Idlan Talaha – one of three survivors of the 2014 squad – adopting a withdrawn striker role.
Tan, the former head coach of Cup specialists Kedah, has opted for a youth-first policy with 16 of the 23-man squad aged 25 or under. He’s capitalised on the recent success of Malaysia’s U23 side under another homegrown coach – and fellow Bahasa-speaking ethnic Chinese – in Ong Kim Swee.
Although they need to make Saturday’s home leg count, Malaysia must learn the lessons of careless Singapore last weekend by not conceding early.
The Thais will be sure to punish any sloppiness or defensive lapses and a score draw will suit them, ahead of the trip back to their Bangkok fortress for Thursday’s second leg.
Thailand are chasing their sixth AFF title and their third in a row. Malaysia have won the Southeast Asian title only once – in 2010 under K Rajagobal – and are aiming to make their third final.
Coach Rajevac will use the AFF knockout stages to finalise his squad for January’s 2019 AFC Asian Cup, with the Thais in Group A, alongside host nation United Arab Emirates, India and Bahrain.
The other 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final sees highly fancied Vietnam take on Sven Goran-Eriksson’s Philippines on Dec 2 and 6, with the Azkals hosting the first leg. Don’t be surprised if the Vietnamese are the eventual champions.
Jason Dasey is CEO of Singapore-based Cockatoo Media and host of Weekend Mornings on MoneyFM893.