Malaysia coach K. Rajagobal (centre) and his boys will have a tough task against Vietnam in their AFF Suzuki Cup second leg match in Vietnam.
Never mind that Vietnam's coach Henrique Calisto went on the offensive yesterday when he said Malaysia's first leg win was earned through unfair means and hope to teach the national side a lesson today.
Calisto blamed the 50,000 Malaysian fans who turned out in Bukit Jalil on Wednesday for distracting his team by aiming laser pointers at the Vietnam players, although the claim remains unsubstantiated.
Calisto blamed the 50,000 Malaysian fans who turned out in Bukit Jalil on Wednesday for distracting his team by aiming laser pointers at the Vietnam players, although the claim remains unsubstantiated.
The Portuguese did not mention the laser pointers in the post-match press conference on Wednesday but instead chose yesterday's meeting in Hanoi to make his accusation besides putting pressure on the match officials to favour the home team.
"Malaysia won (on Wednesday) without fair play. They won because of laser in my players' eyes. The referee too must play an important role and not let what happened in Malaysia happen again," said Calisto, who on Wednesday faulted China's Sun Baojie for favouring Malaysia in the first leg.
Calisto's comments may have been prompted by pressure he is facing to save his job should the defending champions be eliminated at the semi-final stage.
Calisto's comments may have been prompted by pressure he is facing to save his job should the defending champions be eliminated at the semi-final stage.
If anything, Calisto's blase accusations should only serve to fire up a young Malaysian side set to write themselves into the history books with a first final appearance since 1996.
Malaysia's last achievement at senior level in Southeast Asia remains the 1989 Sea Games gold medal won in Kuala Lumpur at the famed Merdeka Stadium.
Discounting last year's Sea Games triumph in Vientiane, which was an Under-23 tournament, and Merdeka Tournament titles in 1993 and 2007 against mediocre opposition, it has been 21 years since success-starved Malaysian fans have had a real reason to celebrate.
While not wanting to look any further than the semi-final second leg at the My Dinh Stadium, where Malaysia will defend a 2-0 first leg lead, Rajagobal briefly entertained thoughts of making the final again for the first time since 1996.
"Now that we are here, we are only one step away from the final. I know I said before 2012 was our target but we have an opportunity to make it happen now.
"We won't have a better chance and we want to push our way through," said Rajagobal at the pre-match press conference yesterday.
Safee Sali, Malaysia's two-goal hero on Wednesday, will be looking to add to his tally along with strike partner Norshahrul Idlan Talaha.
The only change is likely to be at right-back where Sabre Mat Abu should start in place of the erratic Mahalli Jasuli.
"The players need to believe in themselves. We have a two-goal cushion and we have to be at our best," added Rajagobal.
By Devinder Singh
devinder@nst.com.my
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