Malaysia’s Faisal Halim (left) in action against Singapore during the AFF Cup match at the National Stadium Bukit Jalil on Jan 3. -NSTP/ASWADI ALIAS.
Malaysia’s Faisal Halim (left) in action against Singapore during the AFF Cup match at the National Stadium Bukit Jalil on Jan 3. -NSTP/ASWADI ALIAS.

KUALA LUMPUR: Their detractors thought they would not go far. Yet they stormed into the AFF Cup semi-finals.

And now, hotshot winger Faisal Halim has called on his national teammates to go all the way.

And Faisal is bent on scoring against Thailand in the first leg of the AFF Cup semi-finals on Saturday at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

The diminutive Faisal, who is nicknamed Mickey, hopes he can help Malaysia get a comfortable lead for the return leg in Bangkok.

Mickey and gang are in a mean mood after thrashing Singapore 4-1 in their final group B match on Tuesday.

Faisal said the team need to be disciplined against defending champions Thailand to get a positive result before the return leg at the Thammasat Stadium on Jan 10.

"I hope we can get a win at home on Saturday so that we will be in a comfortable position for the return leg in Thailand," said the 24-year-old.

"Thailand are a strong team but I believe in my teammates. Our coaches will come up with a plan to win the match," he said.

Faisal, who scored three goals in Malaysia's opening two matches, said the team had proved their doubters wrong by marching into the semi-finals in style.

"There were people who doubted us. I told my teammates that even if people don't rate us highly, we still have to play with all our heart, and it will yield results," said the Selangor player.

"Just imagine... if this squad had been together for years like Vietnam and Indonesia. We are doing well even after only being together for a month.

"I have not scored in the our last two matches, but it doesn't matter for me as long as the team play well and win matches."