How Malaysia shocked Indonesia to win 2010 AFF Cup
Relive the entire run from the group stage to the final as a young Malaysian team finally brought the coveted trophy home and became the best in SEA.
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Table of Contents
ToggleDisappointing 2008 tournament
The 7th edition saw Malaysia crashing out of the competition in the group stage for only the second time since it all began back 1996. Under B. Sathianathan, it was a tournament to forget for Harimau Malaya — finishing third in the group behind Thailand and Vietnam.
Malaysia had a good mix of experienced and young players but never quite found their feet in Phuket. Opening with an easy win over Laos, two consecutive defeats to Vietnam (3-2) and Thailand (3-0) saw the end of their journey. Only four players in Asraruddin Putra, Safee Sali, Khyril Muhymeen and Amirulhadi Zainal would get a chance to make things right two years later.
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Indonesia 5-1 Malaysia: Disastrous start in the derby
With the group matches played in Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, it was always going to be an uphilll battle for Malaysia, particularly when K. Rajagopal took with him a relatively young squad with only three players over the age of 25. Norshahrul Idlan Talaha had put Malaysia ahead after just 18 minutes but a Asraruddin own goal level proceedings just four minutes later.
Indonesia heaped the pressure and the young Malaysian side simply wilted. Cristian Gonzales, Muhammad Ridwan, Arif Suyono and Irfan Bachdim put Malaysia to the sword. The result forced Rajagopal into a rethink on his defensive and midfield selections, as well as that of the jersey colour with the black-yellow only used one more time in the competition.
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Thailand 0-0 Malaysia: Core of the team found
For the second match, Rajagopal shuffled things around and with the result, saw the XI that he could relied upon. Khairul Fahmi Che Mat was brought in to replace Sharbinee Allawee in goal, Mahali Jasuli came in for Razman Roslan at right back while Amar Rohidan took over from Amri Yahyah in midfield.
Those changes gave Malaysia a much better organised defensive shape and that would proved vital as they held Thailand at bay to keep alive hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the competitin. Thailand under Bryan Robson found little joy in the match that followed their opening 2-2 draw against Laos.
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Malaysia 5-1 Laos: Target achieved, semi-final here we come
The blue kit made it's second straight appearance in the tournament as Malaysia gained plenty of confidence following a hammering handed down on a hapless Laos side. Amri grabbed a brace while Amirul, Norshahrul and Mahali also got on the scoresheet.
But in order to reach the next stage, Malaysia still needed a favour from the host country, Indonesia. It was a favour that was given as Indonesia beat Thailand in the other game which meant that Malaysia finish second in the group behind the perfect Indonesians but crucially, two points ahead of Thailand.
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