KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia got off to a flying start in the Sea Games football competition by upstaging heavyweights Thailand 2-1 at the Thien Truong Stadium in Hanoi today.
Super sub Nur Azfar Fikri Azhar emerged as the Young Tigers' hero, scoring in injury time to knock out the 16-time Sea Games champions.
Malaysia coach Brad Maloney deployed a trident of three forwards in Luqman Hakim Shamsudin, Nik Akif Syahiran and Danial Asri which worked superbly.
But it was the War Elephants who seized the lead against Malaysia in the 33rd minute when Patrik Gustavsson pounced on a defensive mistake to score.
Malaysia, who were Sea Games gold medallists in 2009 and 2011, made two unsuccessful shots at goal in the 39th and 41st minutes.
But the tide turned for Malaysia after Thailand's Jonathan Khemdee was sent off in the 42nd minute for a brutal charge on Syahir Bashah.
Immediately after the red card offence, Thailand coach Alexandre Polking brought in Anusak Jaiphet for goalscorer Gustavsson in a bid to strengthen his defence.
But this move failed to work as Malaysia found the equaliser in the 61st minute through Danial after brilliant build-up moves by Nik Akif and captain Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi.
Maloney later found himself having to do without a concussed Azam Azmi Murad who had to be ambulanced to hospital after a head to head collision with a Thai player.
Maloney immediately made a triple substitution – Hadi Fayyadh Abdul Razak for Syahir, Quentin Cheng for Azam and Danial for Syafik Ismail.
Just before the final whistle, 22-year-old Azfar, who replaced Luqman in the 77th minute, pounced on a Thai defensive mistake and cooly slotted the ball home.
Earlier, Singapore and Laos drew 2-2 in a Group B match.