KUALA LUMPUR: The national men’s futsal squad have failed in their bid to make their fourth final appearance in the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Futsal Championship. In last night’s semi-final match held at the Bangkok Futsal Arena in Thailand, Marcelo Serpa’s boys went down 2-6 to Australia.

The defeat, however, did not affect Malaysia’s chances as they have already booked their ticket to the final round of the 2016 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal Championship in Uzbekistan in February next year after cruising into the last four in Bangkok.

In tonight’s match, Australia also known as Futsalroos got their goals through Nathan Niski in the ninth minute, Daniel Fogarty (10th and 13th minutes), Adam Cooper (28th and 32nd minutes) and also Jarrod Basger in the 36th minute.

Malaysia who emerged as first runner-up in 2003, 2005 and 2010, only managed to score two goals through Muhammad Akmal Yazadh Amri in the 21st minute and Saiful Nizam Mohd Ali in the 37th minute.

Australia will square-off against defending champions Thailand in the final match while Malaysia will take on Vietnam in the 3th/4th classification match. Both matches will be held at the same venue on Friday.

Earlier, Thailand who have been champions of the annual tournament since the first edition in 2001 in Malaysia except for 2010, blasted 6-0 past Vietnam in the other semi-final match in edging closer to defending their title. Thailand did not take part in the 2010 edition in Vietnam. — Bernama