Malaysia scored four first-half goals as they trounced Vietnam 4-2 at My Dinh Stadium on Thursday to advance to the AFF Suzuki Cup final for the second time in four years.

Trailing 2-1 on aggregate from the first leg, the Tigers overturned the deficit with a Safiq Rahim penalty and an opportunistic strike by Norshahrul Idlan Talaha in the first 16 minutes.

Le Cong Vinh levelled the aggregate score with a penalty but an own goal by Dinh Tien Thanh and captain Shukor Adan’s close-range finish put the visitors firmly in control, 4-1 up at half-time.

Cong Vinh netted his second of the game late in the second half but Malaysia hung on to win 5-4 on aggregate, setting up a meeting in the final with Thailand, who beat them 3-2 during the group stage.

The first leg is in Bangkok next Wednesday with the return match in Shah Alam on December 20.

Malaysia were outplayed by Vietnam in their first leg defeat but boosted by the return from suspension of Shukor and midfielder Amri Yahyah, they began the match at a torrid pace with Safiq converting a penalty for the third game in a row after Indra Putra Mahayuddin had been brought down by Que Ngoc Hai after three minutes.

Norshahrul then capitalised on indecision in the Vietnamese backline to chip the ball past goalkeeper Nguyen Thanh Binh just after the quarter-hour.

That put Malaysia ahead 3-2 on aggregate but Vietnam levelled things up in the 22nd minute when Cong Vinh tucked away a penalty after Nguyen Van Quyet had been fouled by Amri.

The home side pushed for the lead but they were caught out in the 29th minute when a long ball sent Indra Putra clear on the left flank and his attempted cross deflected off Tien Thanh into the gaping Vietnamese net.

It got better for the visitors two minutes before half-time when a corner was knocked down by Fadhli Shas for Shukor to bundle in his side’s fourth goal.

Vietnam struggled to create clear-cut chances after the interval as Malaysia settled back to defend their big lead. Le Cong VInh pulled a goal back in the 78th minute after bustling his way between two defenders but it was all that the home side could manage as Malaysia hung on to reach the final.