Kim Pan-gon's Malaysia progressed to the knockout stages for the 10th time in the history of the tournament as Group B runners-up, finishing one point behind Vietnam with three wins from four matches. 

 

Faisal Halim scored the only goal of the game in the second half as Malaysia began their 2022 AFF Cup campaign with a narrow win over Myanmar at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon before he struck two more times in their 5-0 win over Laos at home.  

 

The Harimau Malaya then lost to 2018 champions Vietnam 3-0 at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, but bounced back with a 4-1 victory over Singapore in a must-win final group stage outing in Kuala Lumpur to go through as the second-best team from Group B. 

Thailand made the semi-finals of the AFF Cup for the sixth consecutive time by winning Group A where they pipped Indonesia on goal difference after both sides finished with three wins and a draw. 

 

Alexandre Polking’s side began their title defence with a 5-0 defeat of Brunei Darussalam in Kuala Lumpur before they beat the Philippines 4-0 at the Thammasat Stadium in Bangkok, powered by a brace from veteran striker Teerasil Dangda. 

 

The War Elephants, a goal and a man down, came back to draw 1-1 against Indonesia at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta in their third outing before Teerasil scored another double to defeat Cambodia 3-1 and confirm their semi-final berth as group winners. 

Without players from Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia might be fielding a weakened side at the 2022 AFF Cup, but Selangor forward Faisal has been one of the tournament’s most potent weapons, scoring three goals in four matches for Malaysia to sit joint-second in the scoring charts. 

 

Stuart Wilkin has been a strong presence in the midfield for Kim’s side, providing cover for the defence and also contributing to the attack on occasions — like when he scored twice against Singapore in the all-important final group stage fixture. 

 

Also key for Malaysia is their captain Safawi Rasid, who is uncharacteristically yet to get his name on the scoresheet, but has nonetheless been crucial to his country’s success by providing four assists during the group stage. 

For Thailand, meanwhile, Teerasil remains as influential as ever, even at the age of 34. His five goals during the group stage take his overall tally at the AFF Cup to an incredible 24 goals — now seven more than Singapore legend Noh Alam Shah in second.

 

Captain Theerathon Bunmathan has been top class playing in an unfamiliar midfield role, providing quality service to the Thai attackers and already accounting for three assists.  

 

Also orchestrating Thailand’s move from the middle of the park has been BG Pathum United’s 30-year-old midfielder Sarach Yooyen, who will be looking to win his fourth AFF Cup winner's medal come January 16. 

History is on Thailand’s side as they have won seven of the 15 meetings between the two sides in AFF Cup history while Malaysia have only got the better of the War Elephants on three occasions, with the other five meetings ending in draws. 

 

Two of those draws came in their latest meetings in the semi-finals of the 2018 tournament when, after a goalless draw in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysians held the Thais to a 2-2 stalemate at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok to progress to the final on away goals. 

 

Perhaps the most famous of Thailand's wins came in the inaugural AFF Cup in 1996 when they edged Malaysia 1-0 to emerge victorious in the first-ever final while they prevailed again when the two sides met in the semi-finals in 2012, progressing 3-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw in the first leg. 

 

The two teams faced off again in the 2014 final when Malaysia won the second leg 3-2, but Thailand lifted the silverware, nicking the tie 4-3 on aggregate after Chanathip Songkrasin inspired a late comeback when his side had been three down at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.