Hard at work:
Kim Swee doesn’t want his side to chase the game against Vietnam
Malaysian players going through the paces during a training session in Yangon yesterday. Malaysia will face Vietnam in their second AFF Suzuki Cup Group B match at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon today.
PETALING JAYA: Keep it tight and strike first.
That’s the advice national coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee had for his charges as they prepare to take on Vietnam in their second AFF Suzuki Cup Group B match at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon today.
The Harimau Malaysia had to come from behind twice to edge minnows Cambodia 3-2 in their opening match last Sunday and former international Kim Swee does not want a repeat of that.
“It was good that they showed character to come back twice under the hot sun to beat Cambodia, but that match is in the past. We need to keep moving forward,” said Kim Swee yesterday.
“We need to do better than against Cambodia ... I don’t want a repeat where we have work extra hard to get back into the game. Vietnam have improved and have been preparing very well for this tournament.
“We had weaknesses in the game against Cambodia ... Vietnam are a balanced side and we will make adjustments for the game. We have 23 players in the squad ... everyone is capable of helping the team get a positive result.”
Group favourites Vietnam showed their title ambitions with a 2-1 win over co-hosts Myanmar on Sunday and they are expected to trouble the Malaysian with their speed and technical ability.
Vietnam will also be out to exorcise their 5-4 aggregate semi-final loss to Malaysia in the 2014 edition of the biennial tournament.
Vietnam beat Malaysia 2-1 in the first-leg in Shah Alam but went down 4-2 in the return leg in Hanoi.