KIM SWEE: DOMINIC NOT TO BE BLAMED FOR DEFEAT

NATIONAL Undder23 team coachh Datuk Ong Kim Swee asked Malaysians not to blame Dominic Tan for the team’s failuree to progress to the Asian Games quarter-final stage.

The Malaysians were knocked out 1-0 by Japan, courtesy of a penalty converted by substitute Ayase Ueda.

The Japanese player was brought down by Dominic in the penalty box in the last 16 match at the Patriot Chandrabhaga Stadium in Bekasi on Friday.

“We can’t blame anyone for the loss, Dominic tried to stop Japan from scoring and this situation happens. He has been playing very well and been consistent in our campaign in Indonesia,” said Kim Swee.

Malaysia have never gone beyond the last 16 in Asiad. The previous best finish was also a last 16 finish achieved under Datuk K. Rajagopal at the Guangzhou Asiad in 2010.

The competition was turned into an Under-23 tournament in 2002.

Kim Swee said Japan’s quality upfront made the difference.

“We knew Japan had strong striking options. They put out a different team than the one played Vietnam.

“We held them long but they kept on trying. That’s the difference,” said the former international.

“They made their chances count and we couldn’t convert earlier and got punished.

“It’s unfortunate that we can’t take Japan to extra time.”

Kim Swee’s men started their Asiad campaign with a 3-1 win over Kyrgyzstan before stunning defending champions South Korea 2-1 to book their berth in the last 16 as group champions. The team’s second stringers, however failed to impress as they fell to 3-2 loss to Bahrain in their final Group E match.

The Melaka-born coach said his men proved that they had closed the gap between the Asian heavyweights.

“We want to go further but we lost to a better team. Technically, Japan’s Under-21 team, were much more superior but we made it difficult for them. We are not far from them at this age group and we need to work harder,” said Kim Swee.