Flash Back: AFF Cup 2007

Malaysia's outing in the 2007 edition of the AFF Cup failed to produce anything memorable, save for THAT goal against Singapore by Hardi Jaafar.

Following the 2004 edition, the AFF Cup took a slightly longer time to be held. Although previously it was held at the end of the year every two years, the Asean Football Federation (AFF) decided to delay the 2006 edition for almost two months, meaning it was held at the start of 2007 instead.

This decision was made due to the fact that four AFF countries; Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia would be hosting the 2007 Asian Cup in the middle of the year.

The 2007 AFF Cup edition was co-hosted by Thailand, which hosted Group A, and Singapore, the host country of Group B and the defending champions.

Beginning this edition, both groups were limited to four teams, with one team from each group joining from the qualification stage, also an AFF Cup first. The two qualification spots went to qualification stage winners Laos, and runners up Philippines.

For the first time also, the tournament was not known as the Tiger Cup, as the deal with sponsor Tiger Beer was discontinued.

Malaysia were drawn in Group A alongside the Philippines, Myanmar and the co-hosts, while Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and Laos were drawn in Group B.

Interestingly, this tournament was also the first time that Malaysia were drawn in Group A of the tournament. In all five prior editions, the then-Malayan Tigers had been drawn in Group B.

This time around, Malaysia were led by local coach Norizan Bakar, who picked several experienced Malaysia internationals such as midfielders Shukor Adan, Chan Wing Hoong and K. Nanthakumar, and defenders Norhafiz Zamani Misbah and Kaironnisam Sahabudin Hussain, who featured in the previous edition. Two Malaysian youth players got their first taste of international football at the senior level in the competition; 19-year old Safiq Rahim and Khyril Muhymeen Zambri.

Malaysia began their campaign with a 4-0 demolition of the Philipines on January 12 at the Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok, thanks to Nizaruddin Yusof's goal, Hairuddin Omar's brace and an own goal.

Despite the convincing, if expected, win, the result would be the last time that Malaysia would record a win in the 2007 edition. Their second group match two days later, against Myanmar, would end in a goalless draw.

They faced Thailand in their last group match on January 16 with four points, with Myanmar having the seemingly easier tie, against Philippines, on two points. A defeat to the War Elephants and a win for Myanmar would have meant an early flight home for the Tigers.

And they did lose to the co-hosts, through Sarayuth Chaikamdee's 48th-minute goal. Fortunately, Myanmar, who had earlier produced brave performances against Thailand and Malaysia to draw against both sides, could only draw 0-0 against the unfancied Philippines. The underwhelming Malaysia were through as Group A runners up, and Thailand the winners.

But in Group B, competition was a lot stiffer. Group winners Singapore, runners up Vietnam and third-placed Indonesia all finished group stage with five points, with their group standings decided by goal difference. Malaysia set up a two-legged semi-final tie against Causeway rivals Singapore.

In the first leg match at the Shah Alam Stadium, on January 23, both sides were locked to a 1-1 draw (with Hardi Jaafar scoring what is arguably Malaysia's goal of the decade), and the return fixture at the Kallang Stadium four days later also ended with the same scoreline, after extra time. Penalty shootout was needed, and Malaysia were undone by the inexperience of Muhymeen. The youngster missed his spot kick, the last of the compulsory five first penalties, sending the Lions through to the final match with a 5-4 penalty shootout win.

The penalty shootout in the Singapore-Malaysia match.

In the other semi-final tie, Thailand beat Vietnam 2-0 on aggregate, setting up a tense final match between the two most successful sides in the tournament's history at the time.

For the first time in the tournament, no third place play-off match was played, so Malaysia could not defend their third place finish in the 2004 edition.

And the two-legged final tie proved to be as tense, as well as controversial, as expected. In the first leg match on January 31 in Singapore, the home side was awarded a late penalty, and the visitors walked off the pitch for a moment before eventually coming back on, to lose the match 2-1. In the second leg four days later, Singapore had a goal cancelled for offside, while Datsakorn Thonglao's headbutt on Khairul Amri towards the end of the match was missed by the referee. The second leg ended 1-1, and Singapore captured their third title, the second side to defend their trophy after Thailand did it in 2002.

Malaysia's match results in 2007 AFF Cup.

In anticipation of the 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup , Goal will be reminiscing on all Malaysia's past AFF Cup campaigns until the kick off of this year's tournament. Find out what happened in the 1996, 1998, 2000, and 2002 campaigns here!