Way to go, Mat Yo!
Seasoned striker Norshahrul nets brace in win over Laos
KUALA LUMPUR: Seasoned striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, nicknamed “Mat Yo”, was the hero for Malaysia as his late brace earned the Harimau Malaya a 3-1 win over Laos in their AFF Suzuki Cup second Group A match.
The Laotians took a shock lead through Phithack Kongmathilath in the seventh minute before Malaysia rallied back with goals from skipper Muhammad Zaquan Adha Abdul Razak in the 15th minute and Norshahrul (86th and 92nd) at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last night.
Malaysiacoach Tan Cheng Hoe made just one change from the side that beat Cambodia 1-0 last week, dropping the injured Mohamadou Sumareh for Muhammad Syafiq Ahmad.
The Laotians were forced to make an eleventh hour change, replacing their injured first-choice goalkeeper Saymanolinh Praseuth with Outthilath Nammakhot before the kick off.
The Malaysians had the lion’s share of the possession and pinned Laos to their own half but resolute defending by coach V. Sundramoorthy’s men kept the scoreline 0-0.
Malaysia were then stunned against the run of play as defender Shahrul Saad gave away a free-kick and Phithack rifled it to the top corner in the seventh minute.
The Harimau Malaya’s raid finally paid dividends after striker Zaquan turned in Syahmi Safari’s cross from close range to equalise in the 15th minute.
It was one-way football from then on as Malaysia charged forward for the winner but Laos packed their defence in numbers to stop the attacking forays.
The Malaysian attacking triumvirate of Zaquan, Safawi Rasid and Norshahrul huffed and puffed in search for the second goal but the Laotians defended stoutly till half time.
Cheng Hoe introduced teenage sensation Mohd Akyhar Rashid in place of winger Syazwan Zainon to inject more bite up front in the second half.
Cheng Hoe then brought on strikers Ahmad Hazwan Bakri and Shahrel Fikri Fauzi for the tiring Syafiq Ahmad and Safawi Rasid in the 62nd minute.
Looking to steal a point from the match, the Laotians resorted to time-wasting tactics but referee Sivakorn Pu-Dom of Thailand was not amused and flashed the yellow card to goalkeeper Outthilath in the 63rd minute.
With the clock ticking, Malaysia pressed hard but the players kept squandering their chances before Norshahrul pounced on a loose ball in a melee to give Malaysia the deserved lead in the 86th minute. He doubled his goal tally with a diving header in added time for the three points.
In another Group A match, Myanmar beat Cambodia 4-1.