PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will take a one-goal advantage to Bangkok on Tuesday for the second-leg of their AFF Cup semi-final against Thailand after beating their archrivals with a solitary goal in a pulsating match at Bukit Jalil stadium Saturday night.
Sensational striker Faisal Halim continued his lethal form by scoring the first goal in the 25th minute to put Malaysia in a strong position to qualify for the final.
The goal was special for the lethal striker as it was his 25th birthday on Saturday.
However, it will be too early to write off six-time winners Thailand who missed some chances while playing the kind of scintillating football they are known for.
However, a determined Malaysian defence held firm.
The match was played before a sell-out crowd of more than 54,000 after a day of controversy because 21,000 seats were left vacant to accommodate a stage for a concert next week by Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou.
Harimau Malaya supporters lucky enough to get their hands on tickets for the match rocked the National Stadium with their cheers as they proudly assumed their role as the unofficial 12th player, Bernama reported.
Diehard Harimau Malaya fan and a self proclaimed ‘Ultras Malaya’, Abang Mohd Zulfardly Abang Shamsu, 38, did not think that the limited number of fans was an issue to him as it was their spirit that would inspire the national squad to victory.
“I expect Malaysia to win and qualify to the final,” he said.
Fellow fan and factory operator, Muhd Hakimi Jalil, 24, was also confident that the fans tonight would rattle the Thai team’s confidence.
Another Harimau Malaya fan, Nurul Aina Sharbini, 28, a marketing executive from Shah Alam, believed that the ticket controversy would help Malaysia to become AFF Cup champions this year, while Azman Nawawi, 45, a cook from Kuala Terengganu, hoped the stadium management would ensure that the field would be in a good condition if Malaysia did qualify for the final.
Spotted in the crowd was a former sport minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who received a sporting welcome as he looked for a seat for the second half.
Twitter user Steven Tranung said he offered KJ the empty seat next to him and took a selfie.
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