Thailand’s late goal downs hosts

IT was a bittersweet debut for five-a-side football player Muhamad Azuan Abdul Rasiad at the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games (Para KL2017) yesterday.

The forward did well to score at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil but it was not enough to stop Malaysia from going down 2-1 to fellow contenders Thailand in their opening game.

Azuan, who was forced to sit out the 2015 Singapore games due to a broken hand, is determined to see the team bounce back.

“I am grateful to be able to represent my country and get on the scoresheet at the Para Games this time,” said the 20-year-old.

“Obviously, it was disappointing to lose. However, we will do our best to pick ourselves up against Vietnam (today).

“We struggled a bit on the wet pitch today but I am confident we can do better than this and start winning.”

The national team, who are the defending champions, went down a goal as early as the fifth minute as Thailand found the back of the net through a Kittikorn Boadee strike.

Azuan brought Malaysia level in the 16th only for Kittikorn to score the winner late in the match.

Nonetheless, team captain Amirul Arif Mahadhir said he is not worried by the loss and is keen on getting their chances of qualifying for the final back on track.

“Our defence was not at its best today but it is quite usual for us to struggle a little in our first game. We will improve on our weaknesses,” said Arif.

The defeat to Thailand sees S. Sunny’s team lie third in the standings behind leaders Vietnam, who beat Laos 4-1 yesterday.

The top two teams are separated by goal difference.

The five-a-side teams comprise four completely blind (B1) outfield players and a sighted goalkeeper.

Players locate the ball, which contains a bell or bearing inside, by sound. Each half of the game is 25 minutes. Naqib Nor Said