KUALA LUMPUR − Malaysia were shown the exit from the 2020 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Cup tournament when they lost 1-4 to traditional rivals Indonesia in the last Group B match at the Singapore National Stadium earlier tonight.
The defeat dashed the semi-final hope of the squad under coach Tan Cheng Hoe, as they finished third in the group with six points from four matches.
It also meant the Harimau Malaya failed to go past the group stage of the biennial tournament for the second time since 2016 in the last six editions and it is Malaysia’s third defeat to Indonesia in their last five meetings of the AFF Cup.
The win over Malaysia has enabled Indonesia − coached by Shin Tae-yong − to advance to the semi-finals as group champions on ten points − the same as Vietnam, who are second on goal difference.
The do-or-die match for both teams saw Malaysia drawing first blood when M. Kogileswaran Raj scored with a volley from outside the penalty box in the 13th minute.
Indonesia, who needed only a draw to enter the semi-finals, were not deterred as they fought back with strong raids into the Malaysian half, whose defence sorely missed the services of two key players − skipper Mohamad Aidil Zafuan Abd Radzak and Shahrul Mohd Saad.
Dion Cools and Junior Eldstal played in their absence and the two substitutes clearly lacked a good understanding, especially on the left with Muhammad Syahmi Safari.
The Garuda exploited this weakness to score the equaliser through Irfan Samaling Kumi in the 36th minute, which originated from a counterattack after Malaysia’s striker Muhammad Syafiq Ahmad missed a golden scoring opportunity a minute earlier.
Irfan again scored in the 43rd minute − his third in the tournament − when he easily stabbed in a loose ball, which came off an attempt by Pratama Arhan Alif Rifai. The score line stayed at 2-1 in favour of Indonesia till half-time.
After the interval, Cheng Hoe made a bold move in directing Dion to play in attack to give way to Dominic Tan, who replaced winger Muhammad Safawi Rasid, who was injured at the end of the first half.
However, Malaysia’s hope of a fightback was dampened when Indonesia widened the lead in the 50th minute through a volley from outside the penalty box by Pratama, which failed to be stopped by goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat.
Indonesia, who last played in the semi-finals in 2016, kept up the tempo to continue to put pressure on Malaysia.
Malaysia brought in winger Muhammad Akhyar Abdul Rashid and strikers Guilherme De Paula and Muhammad Shahrel Fikri Md Fauzi but to no effect, as Indonesia capped a glorious night by scoring their fourth goal through substitute Elkan William Tio Baggot in the 82nd minute.
Indonesia’s win redeemed their two defeats to Malaysia in Group C of the 2022 World Cup/2023 Asian Cup second round qualifiers.
In another final Group B match, defending champions Vietnam thrashed Cambodia 4-0 at Bishan Stadium to accompany Indonesia into the semi-finals.
The Golden Dragons’ goals were scored by Nguyen Tien Linh in the third and 27th minutes, Bui Tien Dung (55th minute) and Nguyen Quang Hai (57th minute).
In the semi-finals, Indonesia will play Singapore, who finished second in Group A, while Vietnam will face Group A winners Thailand. – Bernama, December 19, 2021
