Suzuki Cup: Malaysia 2 Vietnam 0

Malaysia took a giant step towards the Suzuki Cup final after they defeated Vietnam 2-0 in the semi-final first leg in Kuala Lumpur.

Safee Sali scored a second-half double in front of his home fans to put Malaysia in the driver’s seat ahead of the return leg in Hanoi.

Vietnam, who made last year’s final, had the better of the opening exchanges and it was only a couple of important saves from Malaysian goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi which kept things level at half time.

Malaysia began to control the match and took the lead on the hour mark when Safee fired a header straight at Vietnam custodian Bui Tan Truong, only for the goalkeeper to let the ball slip through his hands and across the goal line.

Safee sealed the result 10 minutes later when he finished from close range after pouncing on Tan Truong’s parried save.

The second leg will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam on December 18.