Falling behind against Sri Lanka a cause for concern, says Cheng Hoe

PeTaLiNG jaYa: National team coach Tan Cheng Hoe is not pleased after his side’s come-from-behind 4-1 win over Sri Lanka in their friendly match at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Asela Madushan’s goal in the 29th minute gave the hosts the lead before the Harimau Malaya bounced back in the second half with goals from Norshahrul Idlan Talaha (65th), Adam Nor Azlin ( 76th) and newly- naturalised player Mohamadou Sumareh (85th and 92nd).

Cheng Hoe is peeved that his side had to chase the match for the second time, following their 3-1 win over Cambodia last month and warned that the mistakes could cost them in a competition.

The former international admitted that his experiments in the defence due to the unavailability of some players is robbing the department of cohesiveness but praised the team for their hunger to win.

“Our back four were a little all over the place ... they lacked the cohesiveness but it’s because I’ve kept changing things around in the defence in the past matches.

“They still deserve the credit as they bounced back to win the match,” said Cheng Hoe, after arriving from Colombo yesterday.

“As a whole, my boys played well but conceding in the first half could be a big mistake in a competitive setting. In the AFF Championship, we can’t be playing like this ... so the players need to keep their focus.”

The win over Sri Lanka also came at a cost as forward Shahrel Fikri Fauzi picked up an injury but Sumareh’s brace shows that the team have another good option in their arsenal.

“Shahrel looks to have been seriously injured, which will affect our preparations for the coming friendly. We have to keep monitoring him in the next few days,” said the 50-year-old coach.

“Sumareh played well. We know he has the individual quality needed and he has also adapted well to the team.”

The Harimau Malaya will take on Kyrgyzstan at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka on Tuesday.