January 6th and 7th will saw the first leg of the 2022 AFF Championship semifinals being played out, with Group A winners Thailand taking on Group B runners-up Malaysia and Group B table-toppers Vietnam facing-off against Group B silver medalists Indonesia. All four teams secured their semifinal spots with wins in their final group stage games on January 2nd and 3rd.
With the two of them tied in points but separated by goal difference, Indonesia knew that a huge win against already-eliminated Philippines at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila would guarantee them top spot of Group A, but the Timnas Garuda must be wary of Thailand who were taking on a Cambodia side seeking to snatch a seminal ticket at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani.
Things initially went according to plan – Dendy Sulistyawan giving Indonesia the lead in the 21st minute before a breathtaking tiki-taka passing routine between the Indonesian players led to Marselino Ferdinan doubling the Timnas Garuda‘s lead in the 43rd minute.
Teerasil Dangda gave Thailand the lead in the third minute of stoppage time, but as things stood Indonesia would pip Thailand into the summit of Group A.
However, Indonesia were unable to break through a stubborn Philippines defense in the second half, while Thailand were able to double their lead in the 50th minute through Sumanya Purisai to reclaim pole position of Group A.
Cambodia gave Indonesia a glimmer of hope after they managed to slash the deficit in by half in the 68th minute through Sieng Chanthea, however the Philippines ensured that Thailand would finish Group A as group winners as Sebastian Rasmussen fired home the Azkals‘ consolation goal in the 80th minute. Dangda then completed his brace in the 90th minute to ensure the three points and top spot in Group A for Thailand.
Group B saw Vietnam taking on Myanmar at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, while Malaysia entertain Singapore in a winner-takes-all Causeway Derby at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, with the winners earning themselves a spot in the semifinal.
An own goal from Kyaw Zin Lin gave Vietnam the lead in the 8th minute, before Nguyen Tien Linh made it 2-0 in the 27th. Faisal Halim gave Malaysia the lead over at Kuala Lumpur in the 35th minute before the Harimau Malaya went rampant in the second half, a double whammy in the space of four minutes from Stuart Wilkin gave Malaysia a commanding lead over their close neighbors.
Chau Ngoc Quang sealed the win for Vietnam in the 72nd minute, while Faris Ramli pulled a goal back for Singapore in the 85th minute – only for Sergio Ezequiel Aguero to kill off any Singaporean resistance with Malaysia’s fourth goal in the 88th minute.
Malaysia’s huge win over Singapore meant that they will accompany Vietnam into the semifinal as Group B runners-up, taking on defending champions Thailand in the knockouts. Vietnam, on the other hand, take on Indonesia in the other semifinal.