Football
ESPN staff 9y

Dollah: Thailand's superior Suzuki Cup fitness was the difference

Malaysia coach Dollah Salleh believes the superior fitness of Thailand proved to be the difference between the two sides in the two-legged AFF Suzuki Cup final between the nations.

Thailand won 4-3 on aggregate over both legs. The youthful War Elephants scored both their goals in the last 20 minutes of the first leg in Bangkok on Dec. 17. Kiatisuk Senamuang's men repeated their late scoring act during Saturday's second leg in Kuala Lumpur to derail Malaysia's hopes of winning their second ASEAN title after 2010.

"I want to congratulate my players as they played very well and we almost won the cup. But unfortunately it is after 70 minutes that Thailand always take their chances," Dollah told New Straits Times.

Malaysia were leading 3-0 after 70 minutes of second leg action thereby giving them a 3-2 aggregate scoreline. But Thailand's young stars Charyl Chappuis and Chanathip Songkrasin left it late to ensure the trophy came back to Thailand after a 12-year wait.

"Our fitness level collapsed at the end. But this is football, you make a mistake and it will cost you," said Dollah. "When Indra and Afif got cramps, everything collapsed. These two made a big difference and that is an advantage which Thailand took.

"I knew if we kept on defending at 3-0 this would happen, that they would come at us. I had therefore told my players to maintain our plan to attack and defend together.

"After 70 minutes, I told my players to be careful because they will take advantage, and sure enough they did."

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Malaysia started superbly in knockout stage games against Vietnam and Thailand, scoring six goals in the first half of both second legs.

But they did finish strongly in their last Group B match against Singapore to eliminate the co-hosts at the own Sports Hub on Nov. 29. Dollah's team scored two goals after the 90th minute to win 3-1 and knock out the defending champions. A draw would have seen Singapore progress at the expense of Harimau Malaya.

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