Malaysia overpower Thailand at Bukit Jalil

KUALA LUMPUR: Though Malaysia beat Thailand 1-0 in the AFF Cup semi-finals first leg at tsdhe National Stadium in Bukit Jalil tonight, the national team weren't too happy with the result.

Malaysia felt they should have won by a bigger margin as a goal was controversially overturned by the referee.

Harimau Malaya could have made it 2-0 in the 55th minute but South Korean referee Kim Dae Yong cancelled the goal by Dominic Tan.

Dae Yong bizarrely disallowed Dominic's header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner of the goalmouth after Lee Tuck's long-range freekick.

Dae Yong felt that Thailand defender Pansa Hemviboon was fouled by Dominic although he crashed into his goalkeeper Kittipong Phuthawchueak.

Earlier, Malaysia had taken the lead through birthday boy Faisal Halim, who turned 25 today, in the 11th minute.

Despite the score, Thailand were the dominant side as they controlled possession and launched waves of attack.

However, the Malaysian defence of V. Ruventhiran, Dominic, Sharul Nazeem Zulpakar and Quentin Cheng managed to fend off the Thai attack led by veteran forward Teerasil Dangda.

Malaysia keeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi Mohamed was also in his element to foil the Thais.

Malaysia will next travel to Bangkok for the second leg at the Thammasat Stadium on Tuesday.