Strikers strike out

Malaysian forwards fire blanks again against Myanmar

PETALING JAYA: National coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee wanted his strikers to show their killer instincts against Myanmar but instead the Malaysians dished out a listless display for a 0-0 draw.

The goal-shy strikers had fired blanks in their last two international matches in March – losing 2-0 to Saudi Arabia in their World Cup qualifying campaign and drawing 0-0 with an amateur Macau side in a friendly in Malacca.

Kim Swee put all four of his strikers to the test – Mohd Amri Yahyah, Ahmad Hazwan Bakri, Mohd Zaquan Adha and S. Kumaahran – but they could not offer much at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon yesterday.

The only notable chance that fell their way was when midfielder Amirulhadi Zainal’s point-blank shot was saved by goalkeeper Pyae Phyo Aung in the 33rd minute.

The absence of skipper Safiq Rahim showed they cleared lacked a ball winner and playmaker in the engine room. Baddrol Bakhtiar and Junior Eldstal were unable to provide the spark.

The fleet-footed Myanmar players had the defence marshalled by Mohd Aidil Zafuan and Mohd Shahrom Kalam in sixes and sevens.

Kim Swee wanted to see some kind of improvement from the players before the two-match Asian Cup playoff against Timor Leste at the Larkin Stadium in Johor Baru on June 2 and June 6. But going by what was seen, the national team have a lot of work to do.

The 28-year-old Zaquan’s return after a three-year lapse shows the dearth of strikers in the country. Zaquan is plying his trade with Johor Darul Ta’zim II in the second-tier league.

The FA of Malaysia have also lined up a series of friendlies ahead of the AFF Suzuki Cup (Nov 19-Dec 17).

The team will go on a tour of Oceania and play against Papua New Guinea (June 17), New Caledonia (June 22) and Fiji (June 26).

They have also lined up a friendly against Singapore at home on Sept 1.