STATISTICS BELIE HARIMAU’S ROAR
Malaysia may have won, but Cambodia were more organised in Monday’s AFF Cup opening match
nstsport@nst.com.my
TAN Cheng Hoe may have had a grimace on his face when looking at the bare statistics of Malaysia’s 3-1 win over Cambodia on Monday, and it made for grim reading. The most important statistic is the three points on the board from Malaysia’s opening Group B match at the AFF Cup but the rest would not have pleased the national coach.
Cambodia had double the number of corners (10-5), Malaysia committed more fouls (14-11) and were less accurate with their passing than their less-heralded opponents (82.1 per cent to 84.3 per cent).
Malaysia had more shots on target, which was to be expected, but Cheng Hoe will be concerned that Cambodia got through enough times to trouble Khairul Fahmi Che Mat into making five saves.
It probably did not help his mood that Khairul Fahmi also conceded a soft penalty by leaving his leg dangling in the air when gathering the ball.
But what really grabbed attention was that Cambodia had more possession of the ball — 57 to 43 per cent — than Malaysia, something that would have been unheard of even a year ago!
While Malaysia was more clinical — even with Guilherme De Paula doing who knows what — Cambodia was the more organised side, belying their Fifa ranking of 170th. Had Malaysia come up against better opponents, there would have been another story to tell.
Former Japan star Keisuke Honda’s influence on Cambodia was apparent from the start when the minnows eschewed punting the ball forward and began each move from the back.
They freely worked the ball around, helped no doubt by the reluctance of the Malaysian forwards to press and harry the Cambodian players.
That was rather puzzling as, given the clear difference in quality, one would have expected the Malaysians to work to get the ball off the Cambodians. Perhaps tiredness, after a long domestic season, was a factor but only one player in Malaysia’s first XI — Safawi Rasid — started the Malaysia Cup final on Nov 30.
Malaysia certainly looked pedestrian. When you consider that the average age of Malaysia’s starting line-up was 28.7 years with five players aged 30 or above, you can see why. Only Akhyar Rashid, Syahmi Safari and Safawi were under 25 years. Hardly a vote of confidence for Malaysia’s next generation.
But Cheng Hoe’s intention may have been to guarantee the win with experience and familiar faces taking the field, avoiding unnecessary risks and reducing the pressure on the next fixture. You could hardly blame him for taking this approach given the absence of any real preparation
for this tournament coming on the heels of an exacting Malaysia Cup campaign.
The centre-back partnership between Aidil Zafuan Radzak and Shahrul Saad may have been the most pleasing aspect of the Malaysian display — starting together for the first time in two years. It was also Aidil’s first start — for club and country — since July 1. Any fears over lack of game time were put to rest as the pair played with composure and authority.
Midfielder Junior Eldstal was caught napping a couple of times, however, and forced off the field in the 27th minute to be replaced by Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi, who will need time to find his feet in international football.
For a good hour, Malaysia sat uncomfortably on a one-goal lead with Cambodia proving unexpectedly dangerous in set-pieces despite lacking an aerial advantage. The corner kicks made for uncomfortable situations with one nearly catching Khairul Fahmi out as an in-swinger bounced off the crossbar.
But the match’s complexion changed when Cheng Hoe rang the changes and introduced younger legs to take advantage of a drop in intensity in Cambodia’s game. With more willing runners, Cambodia was forced to backpedal and the spaces opened up for Lukman Hakim Shamsuddin, Shahrel Fikri Fauzi, Arif Aiman
Hanapi and Kogileswaran Raj to take advantage.
At the final whistle, Malaysia’s average age had been reduced to 26.2 years which may give Cheng Hoe the confidence to reverse the order and start with the young forwards instead, with a stable and experienced backline providing cover.
Today’s opponents Laos may provide the perfect opposition for a chance to rotate, with Vietnam on the horizon on Sunday.
If the way Fifa’s 185th-ranked side lined up against Vietnam on Monday was any indication, Malaysia should have more of the ball against Laos. V. Selvaraj, the Laos coach, however, may be encouraged by Cambodia’s approach and change tack but Malaysia’s hungry youngsters carry a threat of their own.
Malaysia have won their last four meetings with Laos — including 3-1 at the 2018 AFF Cup in Bukit Jalil — and unbeaten in their last eight clashes since the horror show of a 1-0 defeat at the 1997 Sea Games in Jakarta.
Laos had just 24 per cent of the ball against Vietnam and made only two attempts on goal, although in 31-year-old French-born Billy Ketkeophomphone, they do possess a striker who plies his trade in the French second tier for Dunkerque and who could cause trouble for the Malaysian defence.
It is evident, however, that the likes of Shahrel Fikri, who already has five goals in 16 international appearances, Lukman, Kogileswaran, Arif Aiman and Akhyar are champing at the bit to realise their potential, so perhaps it’s time for Cheng Hoe to let loose of the leash.