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KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia drew 1-1 with defending champions Singapore in the first leg of their Asean Football Championship semi-final on Tuesday.
Malaysia were under pressure to perform at home after sneaking into the semi-finals despite losing their last group match against regional powerhouse Thailand.
They silenced their critics in the 57th minute when Mohamad Hardi Jaafar found the back of the net.
Singapore hit back in the 73rd thanks to in-form marksman Noh Alam Sha, but were reduced to 10 men in the final minute of the match, after Aide Iskandar was red carded in the 89th.
But they hung on for a draw, leaving both teams desperate to win the second leg of the semi-final when they meet again on Saturday at the National Stadium.
In the other semi-finals, three-time champions Thailand take on Vietnam, who finished second in their group, on Wednesday before meeting again on Sunday.
Malaysia has failed to progress past the semi-finals in the last three editions of the championship, formerly known as the Tiger Cup.
Coach Norizan Bakar said before Tuesday's match that his team was confident of going one better this year, despite struggling early in the competition, winning just one game, and relying on a goalless draw between Myanmar and the Philippines to advance.
In contrast, Singapore are favourites to reach the final and even take the title after finishing top of their group.
Malaysia went into Tuesday's clash without Irwan Fadzli Idrus who was suspended. But the Singaporeans were also disadvantaged, missing veteran defender S. Subramani due to injury and midfielder Mustafic Fahrudin to suspension. - AFP/de
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