Malaysia wary of Thai threat in top-of-the-table Group A tie

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia want to wrap up their Group A campaign in the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under- 19 championship in Myanmar as champions.

And national Under-19 coach Bojan Hodak has told his boys not to take it easy when they face fancied Thailand in a top-of-the table clash at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon today (4.30pm).

The two sides have qualified for the semi-finals as they both have 12 points. Malaysia top the group on goal difference.

Hodak said a win over Thailand would be a good achievement for his team, who only had two weeks to prepare for the tournament.

“It’s important that we finish top of the group. There are no injuries, but we have to be cautious as some are on yellow cards.

“There are four players with cautions (yellow card) and I will not use them for tomorrow’s game,” said Hodak.

They are Mohd Zahril Azri, Awang Mohd Faiz, Mohd Azhar Apandi and Mohd Syafiq Danial.

Malaysia defeated Cambodia 2-0 in their penultimate Group A match at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon on Sunday.

Shafizi Iqmal Khiruddin (22nd) and Muhd Syafiq Danial Romzi (52nd) scored a goal in each half for their fourth straight win, having earlier defeated Laos 4-1, Singapore 3-1 and Timor Leste 3-0.

The Thais are also undefeated after wins over Timor Leste (3-0), Laos (2-1), Cambodia (1-0) and Singapore (2-0).

The contest in Group B has turned into a three-horse race among Vietnam, Indonesia and host Myanmar.

Last year, Malaysia – under German coach Frank Bernhardt – failed to reach the semi-finals after shock losses to Timor Leste (3-2) and host Vietnam (3-1).

Australia emerged champions when they thrashed Thailand 5-1 in the final in Hanoi last year.