KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's AFF Cup campaign came to a premature end today after suffering a 4-1 loss to Indonesia in their final Group B match at the National Stadium in Singapore.
Harimau Malaya needed a win to qualify for the semi-finals while the Garuda needed only a draw to advance past the group stage. But Indonesia did it better, not just a draw but carved out a handsome win over Malaysia.
It all ended in heartbreak for Malaysia despite a dream start. Tan Cheng Hoe's team seized the lead in the 13th minute through M. Kogileswaran Raj who found the net with a shot from the edge of the box.
The goal was supposed to roar Harimau Malaya on, but it had the opposite effect. Indonesia reacted with more aggression to take Malaysia by the scruff of the neck.
Garuda bombed Malaysia from the flanks to put our defenders on the backfoot, and in the 36th minute Malaysia conceded.
Indonesian Irfan Jaya struck the equaliser with a right footed shot from the right side of the box. He then struck his second goal to put Indonesia 2-1 up after beating Malaysian goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat in the 43rd minute.
Malaysia's chances of saving the game took a blow after winger Safawi Rasid picked up a shoulder injury following a collision with an Indonesian player just before half time.
Safawi could not continue in the second half, forcing Cheng Hoe to reshuffle his strategies, bringing in centre-back Dominic Tan and pushing Dion Cools to central midfield.
However, it was Indonesia who scored again as Pratama Arhan rifled a shot to the top right corner from outside the box. Indonesia were leading 3-1 comfortably
in the 50th minute.
With the situation looking dire, Cheng Hoe made a double substitution in the 60th minute, bringing in Guilherme De Paula and Akhyar Rashid for Kogileswaran and Arif Aiman Hanapi, but they couldn't make an impact.
Cheng Hoe also replaced Syafiq Ahmad with Shahrel Fikri Fauzi in the 77th minute but there was not much difference either.
Indonesia then piled more misery on Malaysia with Elkan Baggott scoring his side's fourth goal in the 82nd minute through a header.
Indonesia, as Group B runners-up to Vietnam, will meet Group A champions Thailand in the semi-finals.