Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia will take a two-goal advantage into the second leg of their AFF Suzuki Cup clash with Vietnam on Saturday after K. Rajagobal's side secured a 2-0 win over the defending champions at Bukit Jalil Stadium on Wednesday evening.
A goalkeeping error by Bui Tan Truong saw Safee Sali give Malaysia the lead before the Selangor striker doubled his side's advantage from close range with 10 minutes remaining to put Malaysia in the driving seat ahead of the second leg in Hanoi.
Vietnam will need to win the second leg by three goals – there is no away goals ruling in the AFF Suzuki Cup – in front of their home fans at the My Dinh Stadium if Henrique Calisto's side are to progress to a second straight final.
Calisto's team certainly produced enough opportunities to have put themselves on the score sheet, particularly in the opening 45 minutes.
The Vietnamese, backed by a boisterous band of close to 2,000 fans who had traveled to Malaysia for the game, carved out the majority of the first half's chances, and Khairul Fahmi was certainly the busier of the two goalkeepers.
The Kelantan custodian's finest moment in the first half came on the stroke of half-time when he reacted sharply to push Nguyen Vu Phong's low curling free kick around his left upright during stoppage time.
Vietnam striker Nguyen Anh Duc had seen his goal-bound shot hacked clear by Mahalli Jasuli when Fahmi was lying on the ground and beaten while the goalkeeper was also called into action by Phan Thanh Hung.
The home side, however, refused to be overawed despite the vibrancy and fluidity of their more experienced opponents.
Safee forced Tan Truong into action after just eight minutes after a fine run down the left by S. Kunalan as the Malaysians kept the Vietnamese defence on their toes.
While the Vietnamese shaded the first half, it was Malaysia who had the better of the exchanges in the second period and it was the Tigers who took the lead as the country aims to book a place in the final for the first time since 1996.
Safee went close with a 56th minute header while Kunalan's curling right-footed effort from the left side of the penalty area drifted just off target with Tan Truong beaten.
As the clock clicked beyond the hour mark, Malaysia took the lead when the power on Safee's header from close range following Safiq's right-wing free-kick was too much for Tan Truong to handle and the ball slipped over his shoulder and into the goal.
The goal rocked the Vietnamese and, with 10 minutes remaining, the home side doubled their advantage with Safee again finding the target.
This time the Selangor man was quickest to react as Tan Truong dropped sharply to save Safiq's goal-bound effort from distance, but the goalkeeper could only parry the ball and Safee's speed saw him steal in on goal to finish with aplomb and send the home fans delirious.
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