AFF Suzuki Cup: It's a Malaysia-Vietnam showdown

Malaysia's soccer team applaud supporters after their AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final match against Thailand at the Rajamangala national stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. - AP

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The stage is set for Malaysia to get their revenge on Vietnam.

Vietnam, who defeated Malaysia 2-0 in a group match last month, sealed their place in the AFF Suzuki Cup final after beating the Philippines 4-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals on Thursday (Dec 6).

The Golden Dragons edged the Philippines 2-1 in the semi-final, return-leg tie on home ground.

They had defeated "The Azkals", trained by former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, by a similar margin in the first leg at the Panaad Stadium, Bacolod on Dec 2.

All the goals in tonight's return-leg match came in the last 10 minutes, with Nguyen Quang Hai (83rd minute) and Nguyen Cong Phuong (87th) scoring for Vietnam before James Younghusband reduced the deficit a minute from time.

Malaysia had earlier secured their spot in the final after holding Thailand to a 2-2 draw in the semi-final, second-leg clash in Bangkok on Wednesday (Dec 5).

Having drawn the first-leg match 0-0 at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil on Dec 1, head coach Tan Cheng Hoe's Harimau Malaya qualified on the away-goal rule.

Malaysia will host Vietnam in the first leg of the final at the National Stadium on Dec 11 before travelling to Hanoi for the return leg on Dec 15. - Bernama