Bangkok: Defending champions Thailand will return to ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 action when they take on Malaysia in Group A at Rajamangala Stadium on Saturday.
Thailand began their campaign with a 10-0 rout over Timor-Leste last Sunday in a game that saw braces from Ben Davis, Suphanat Mueanta, Seksan Ratree and Teerasak Poeiphimai, while Patrik Gustavsson and Nicholas Mickelson were also on the scoresheet.
But it was not all good news for the seven-time winners as midfielder Davis limped off with an ankle injury that will likely see him miss the remainder of the group stage.
On the positive side, Supachok Sarachat has joined the squad after the conclusion of the J.League season with his club team Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo and will be available to line up alongside his brother Suphanat in the Thailand frontline.
While Thailand were in cruise control in their group stage opener before enjoying a six-day break ahead of their second match, Malaysia have endured a much tougher start to their campaign.
The Harimau Malaya twice fell behind against Cambodia in the first match of the tournament only for equalisers from Stuart Wilkin and Fergus Tierney to rescue a point in Phnom Penh.
In many ways, what followed next was worse as they fell 2-1 behind against Timor-Leste on Matchday Two at Bukit Jalil National Stadium in a game that could have seen arguably the biggest shock in ASEAN Championship history.
But head coach Pau Marti Vicente had forward Paulo Josue to thank for sparing the team’s blushes as the veteran netted twice in the final 20 minutes to claim all three points.
While the performances have been far from what is expected, four points from two games does mean Malaysia go into their match against Thailand on top of Group A, albeit having played a game more than Thailand and Singapore.
Adding to Malaysia’s concerns are that four key players – Wilkin, Dominic Tan, Darren Lok and Daniel Ting – have been recalled by club side Sabah for the Malaysia Cup quarter-final against Kuching City so have not travelled to Thailand.
The game in the Thai capital sees the renewal of one of the ASEAN Championship’s biggest rivalries with the sides having met in 11 of the 14 editions of the regional competition over the years.
Among the most notable were two finals, the first of which came in the inaugural edition in 1996 which Thailand edged 1-0 before a young Chanathip Songkrasin inspired the War Elephants to a 4-3 aggregate victory in 2014.
More recently, Thailand also came out on top of the 2022 semi-final after coming back from a 1-0 first-leg deficit to win the return meeting 3-0. The result saw the Thais avenge the defeat to Malaysia in the 2018 semi-final.
Thailand vs Malaysia
Venue: Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok
Kick-off: 14 December, 8PM (Local Time)
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