ROARING START FOR TIGERS
Malaysia down Cambodia in AFF Cup opening match
DESPITE a Covid shock on the eve of the AFF Cup, Malaysia enjoyed a positive start to the competition in Singapore yesterday.
Though coach Tan Cheng Hoe was without goalkeeper Khairulazhan Khalid and striker Faisal
Halim, who tested positive on Sunday, Malaysia outplayed Cambodia 3-1 in their Group B opener at the Bishan Stadium.
Against world No 170 Cambodia, world No 154 Malaysia had expected three points, nothing less.
Though Cambodia were managed by Japan’s former World Cup star Keisuke Honda from the dugout, he could do little to lift the Angkor Warriors.
With yesterday’s triumph, Malaysia extended their winning record against Cambodia to 24 matches against four losses. The Indochina side last beat Malaysia 48 years ago, 2-0 in the President’s Park Cup in Seoul.
Yesterday, Safawi Rasid put Malaysia in the lead in the 23rd minute, converting a penalty after Akhyar Rasid was fouled by
Ken Chansopheak. This was Safawi’s second goal in the AFF Cup, the first coming against Vietnam in 2018.
Cheng Hoe made an early substitution in the 26th minute, bringing in Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi for Junior Eldstal who was slightly sloppy in midfield.
In the 60th minute, the marauding Akhyar put Malaysia 2-0 up, when he beat two defenders to slot the ball home.
The plucky Cambodians made several attempts in both halves but Malaysia goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat was in his element to thwart them.
Cheng Hoe made two more substitutions, bringing on Kogileswaran Raj for Syafiq Ahmad and Arif Aiman Hanapi for Safawi Rasid in the 75th minute. This paid off with Kogileswaran scoring in the 79th minute for his first international goal in three appearances for the national team.
The Angkor Warriors kept fighting and were rewarded with a consolation goal in the 89th minute through a penalty by Sath Rosib. Khairul Fahmi, the only Malaysian playing in six editions of the AFF Cup, was penalised for a late leg raise and yellow carded.