![[UPDATED] M’sia miss out on AFF Cup final after Thailand win semi second leg](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/_large/2023-aff_cup_semi_malaysia_v_thailand_on_jan_10-Football_Association_of_Malaysia_fb.jpg)
KUALA LUMPUR – Thailand bounced back in the semi-final second leg of the AFF Cup tonight to thump Malaysia 3-0 at Thammasat Stadium in Rangsit, Thailand, winning the tie 3-1 on aggregate.
The defending champions will now meet Vietnam in the final.
The War Elephants had better ball possession from the start of the match and drew first blood in the 19th minute after Teerasil Dangda headed in the opener from an assist by T. Bunmathan.
Harimau Malaya were not showing the best performance they had in Bukit Jalil during the first leg last week as they failed to penetrate the Thai defence.
Malaysia’s hopes of making it to the final were then dashed after Thailand’s Bordin Phala and Adisak Kraisorn scored the second and third goals in the 55th and 71st minute respectively.
Meanwhile, Harimau Malaya captain Muhammad Faisal Abdul Halim apologised to the Malaysian fans for the team’s failure to make the final.
“We tried our best to overcome Thailand here today. They scored early and that should not have happened. However, things did not seem to go our way tonight.
“We apologise to the fans because we could not get to the final. I am still proud of the team, nonetheless,” he said in a television interview after the match.
Six-time winners Thailand will play Vietnam in the first leg of the final at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam on Friday while the second leg will be at Thammasat Stadium next Monday. – The Vibes, January 10, 2023
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