Malaysia lost 0-3 to Thailand in yesterday’s AFC 23 championship. The journey of Malaysia to move next round is already gone.
Suphanat Mueanta scored twice with Channarong Promsrikaew adding the third in a meeting between two Southeast Asian rivals at the Bunyodkor Stadium.
Victory means Thailand faces a winner-takes-all clash with the Korea Republic on Wednesday, with Malaysia only playing for pride against Vietnam, who are also still in the running for a knockout stage spot.
Malaysia made one change to the side that lost 4-1 to Korea Republic with striker Danial Asri starting, while Thailand brought in five new faces, following their 2-2 draw against Vietnam.
Thailand began the match on the back foot against an attacking Malaysian side with Mukhairi Ajmal missing the target from inside the box in the third minute, while Nik Akif should have done better seconds later, hitting his effort straight at Thailand keeper Nopphon Lakhonphon.
Thailand sat deep in their half with only Ekanit Panya trying from distance, while Malaysia continued to toil in front of the goal with Mukhairi first sending his effort high above the bar at the quarter of an hour mark before Hairiey Hakim saw his header saved by Nopphon.
Thailand came alive in the 19th minute when Wanchat Choosong created a chance out of nothing when he burst into the six-yard box only to have Hairiey Hakim intercept with a smart tackle.
Malaysia, however, suffered a lapse in concentration moments later and Suphanat pounced on the chance when he found space inside to collect Channarong’s through ball before finishing with a delightful lob over goalkeeper Rahadiazli Rahalim.
Malaysia almost conceded again at the half hour mark with Suphanat forcing Rahadiazli into a save as Thailand took a 1-0 lead going into the break.
Malaysia made a double substitution at the start of the second half with Hadi Fayyadh and Aiman Afif coming on for Danial Asri and Azam Azmi respectively.
The duo made an impact 10 minutes after their introduction with Aiman trying from distance off Mukhairi’s pass while Hadi should have scored but mistimed an attempt at a diving header from Quentin Cheng’s cross from the right.
It was, however, Thailand who would score again as Malaysia failed to clear Nico Mickelson’s cross into the area in the 69th minute, with Channarong at the right place for an easy finish from close range.
Thailand’s third was scored four minutes later with Ben Davies setting up Suphanat, who struck from outside the box with a curling effort to seal the win which took Thailand to four points – the same as Korea Republic and two ahead of Vietnam – to set up a blockbuster Matchday Three.
Video goal highlights Malaysia 0-3 Thailand AFC u23 5.6.2022
You must be logged in to post a comment.