Jumping
for joy: Azamuddin Mohd Akil celebrates after scoring Malaysia’s first
goal against Indonesia during their Group B match Saturday. — AFP
Reports by SHAMSHUL FITRI and K. RAJAN - MALAYSIA
made the critics eat their words with a rousing 2-0 win over Indonesia
to book a place in the AFF Suzuki Cup semi-finals at the National
Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
The Malaysian Tigers were written off following their 3-0 mauling by
Singapore in the opening Group B match last Sunday. They stormed back
into the reckoning by routing Laos 4-1 and, last night, made sure of
their ticket to the last four with a scintillating display in a packed
stadium.
Both sides started cautiously and the match suddenly came alive after
the 20th minute when Azamuddin Akil sent the fans into a frenzy with
the opening goal in the 26th minute. Three minutes later, the vociferous
fans got their money’s worth when right-back Mahali Jasuli made it 2-0.
National coach Datuk K. Rajagopal was simply delighted with his side’s comfortable win.
“We started brightly and scored two goals in the first half, but it was still a tough match,” said Rajagopal.
“Indonesia were pressing for a goal despite being two goals down. I
was telling my players to kill off the game with a third goal but we
couldn’t get the breakthrough.”
Indonesia coach Nil Maizar took full responsibility for the team’s defeat.
“The players gave it their everything but it wasn’t good enough,” said a dejected Nil Maizar.
“I take responsibility for this defeat. We were playing well until we conceded the two goals in a three-minute spell.”
The win left Malaysia as Group B runners-up behind leaders Singapore
on goal difference. Singapore beat Laos 4-3 in the other match to end up
with six points and head the standings with a better goal difference.
Malaysia play Group A champions Thailand at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium next Sunday.
The match’s turning point came when winger Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor was moved to the right flank and Azamuddin went to the left.
Wan Zack’s link-up play with the over-lapping Mahali forced the Indonesian back-line to back-pedal.
In one of their marauding runs down the flank, Mahali sneaked past
the Indonesian defence to send in a cross for Azamuddin to slam in the
first goal.
Three minutes later it was Mahali’s turn to get on the score sheet
when he burst into the Indonesian penalty box to score from a tight
angle to double Malaysia’s lead.
Malaysia picked up from where they left in the second half and
continued with their fast pressing game while the defence smothered
Indonesia’s attacks.
Nil Maizar rang in the changes by bringing in the attacking trio of
Andik Vermanshah, Tonnie Cussel and Jhonny Van Beukering to get back
into the game but it yielded nothing.
Rajagopal also made changes by taking out the injured Mohd Shakir
Shaari, Norsharul Idlan Talaha and Azamuddin and replacing them with
Gary Steven Robbat, Amar Rohidan and Ahmad Fakri Saarani.
And towards the end of the game, the frustrated Indonesians resorted
to rough house tactics but the Tigers kept their cool to seal their
place in the semi-finals.
http://football.thestar.com.my/2012/12/02/malaysia-to-face-thailand-in-semis/
vs 
(2:3)
(2:2)
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