Negeri Sembilan coach Mohd Asri Ninggal has equated Malaysian football hero N.Thanabalan to Germany's Thomas Mueller.

The Felcra F.C player headed in the winner in the SEA Games football semifinal match between Malaysia and arch rivals Indonesia at the Shah Alam last night. His solitary goal paved the way for the squad to meet Thailand in the final at the same venue on Tuesday.

It was his fourth goal in the "mother of all gold medals" competition.

Mohd Asri ,who once coached Thanabalan, said he was a very hardworking player and gifted with the 'scoring instinct just like Mueller, who plays for Bayern Munich.

"Thana has the instinct to be in the right place at the right time and given the chance, he will score," he told Bernama here today.

He added that he hoped that Thanabalan, whom he described as a devoted family man, would find the scoring touch again in the final.

-- BERNAMA