MALAYSIA WILT AGAINST IRAQ
Kim Swee’s boys struggle against rivals’ fiery pace
AMID the cold of China where the temperature was 3 degrees Celsius, the Malaysian team were put to the sword by the desert raiders from Iraq yesterday.
Malaysia fell tamely 4-1 to 2013 champions Iraq in their Group C opening match of the AFC Under-23 Championship at Changshu Stadium.
There was nothing the Malaysian side could do to take the fight to their opponents as the fiery Iraqis went ahead by two goals in the first half.
Dominic Tan’s inability to intercept Amjed Attwan Kadhim’s run allowed the Iraqi winger to send in a cross for Mohammed Khalid Jaffal to head in the first goal as early as the 5th minute.
Then a mistake by defender Syazwan Andik on the left resulted in Amjeed Attwan Kadhim once again getting the better of the Malaysian defence to score Iraq’s second goal in the 28th minute.
The Malaysians tried to get back into the game through attacks in the right initiated by Matthew Davies, but forwards Jafri Firdaus Chew and Safawi Rasid failed to present any real threat.
Iraq, coached by Abdul Ghani Shahad were in control of the match and added a third goal, thanks to Alaa Ali Mhawi in the 57th minute after he got the better of Ifwat Akmal Chek Kassim.
Malaysia fought back valiantly and their efforts paid off when they pulled one back, thanks to Safawi Rasid in the 79th minute.
However, the fightback was quashed when Iraqi Hussein Al Saedi put the match beyond Malaysia’s reach with a fourth goal two minutes later.
The win put Iraq, who finished third two years ago, in a comfortable position to make the quarter-finals, while Malaysia will have to pull off an upset against Jordan on Saturday if they are to have any chance of advancing past the group stage.
Malaysia Under-23 coach Ong Kim Swee said: “We lost to a much better team, what separated both sides is the Iraqi players’ individual quality.
“Our players did try but sadly we made mistakes and let in two goals.
“I am saddened looking at the 4-1 scoreline, what more because of two individual mistakes. When playing at this level, making such mistakes will get us punished.
"However, what’s positive is seeing the players fight on even though we were trailing. They tried to reorganise and attack but to no avail.”