The Felcra FC player headed in the winner in the SEA Games football semi-final match between Malaysia and arch rivals Indonesia at the Shah Alam stadium on Sunday.
His solitary goal paved the way for the squad to meet Thailand in the final at the same venue on tonight.
It was his fourth goal in the “mother of all gold medals” competition.
Mohd Asri, who once coached Thanabalan, said he is 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.
He added that he hoped that Thanabalan, whom he described as a devoted family man, would find the scoring touch again in tonight’s final.