Football
Gabriel Tan 2y

Malaysia stay unbeaten at Southeast Asian Games but lose top spot to Thailand

Malaysia finished their Group B campaign at the Southeast Asian Games undefeated following a 2-2 draw with Cambodia on Monday, although the result ultimately saw them finish behind Thailand ahead of the semifinals.

It was the Cambodians who took the lead on the stroke of halftime courtesy when Choun Chanchav emphatically dispatched a penalty, after Quentin Cheng had been harshly penalised for handball inside the area.

- Indonesia seal SEA Games semi berth; Vietnam finish top

The Malaysians were then awarded a spot-kick of their own six minutes after the restart after Taing Bunchhai clumsily barged into the back of Syafik Ismail in the box, paving the way for Hadi Fayyadh to send Hul Kimhuy the wrong way from the spot.

Although they were already eliminated, Cambodia showed plenty of endeavour as they looked to sign off on a high and duly reclaimed the lead in the 61st minute after Ky Rina got in behind the opposition defence to race onto an over-the-top ball and calmly finish past Azri Ghani.

But seven minutes later, Hairiey Hakim Mamat and Luqman Hakim Shamsudin linked up well to create an opening for Hadi, who cleverly spun his marker and squeezed a shot on the swivel in at the far post to earn Malaysia a share of the spoils.

The result initially left Malaysia top of Group B on eight points, but they were overtaken later on Monday evening when Thailand beat bottom-placed Laos 1-0.

The only goal of the game arrived in the 19th minute when the luckless At Viengkham turned the ball into his own net, after goalkeeper Keo-Oudone Souvannasangso denied Mehti Sarakham from close range but could only divert the ball into his teammate.

Thailand will now meet Indonesia in the semifinals, while hosts and defending gold medallists Vietnam await Malaysia.

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