KUALA LUMPUR – Harimau Malaya have kicked off their preparations for the upcoming AFF Cup campaign with a 4-0 thrashing of Cambodia in a Tier 1 International match last night.
The boys in yellow took charge of the match quickly and Muhammad Faisal Abdul Halim delicately chipped Cambodia’s keeper Hul Kimhuy in the 11th minute to open the scoring.
Sri Pahang FC’s Lee Tuck, who received his Malaysian citizenship through naturalisation in September, showed potential as he managed to execute quick passes inside the box to give Malaysia a close chance of doubling their lead in the 34th minute.
Not long after, Tuck extended the lead with his debut goal for the national team in the 37th minute.
As light rain fell throughout the game at Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Faisal found the back of the net once again before the half-time whistle, once again chipping the ball over Hul and giving the squad a comfortable lead going into the second-half.
The final 45 minutes lacked the action from the first-half. But in the 85th minute another national team debutant Stuart Wilkin, who obtained his citizenship in 2016, scored the fourth goal to cap a fine Harimau Malaya performance.
At the post-match press conference last night, Malaysia’s head coach Kim Pan-gon praised his men for their performance, considering most of the call-ups only had a short period of time to train with the team.
“I did not expect four goals today. But how the players played today seems as if they have been together for a long time.
“I am so proud of them and sincerely appreciate the players’ efforts on the pitch today. They played with the Malaysian DNA, and they played for the fans that came out to see them. The fans’ support must not be forgotten,” he said.
Pan-gon added that he purposely pressured his men in the second half, even though they were riding on a comfortable lead.
“I intended to pressure them at that stage because they have to catch up with their performance as they need to be at their full capacity for the AFF Cup.
“I wanted to push them, and they delivered,” he added.
Previously, Pan-gon called on Harimau Malaya supporters to stick by the national team through thick and thin, but said the team would accept criticism for lack of passion on the pitch.
Meanwhile, Cambodia head coach Ryu Hirose said the condition of the pitch at Bukit Jalil National Stadium, due to the rain, was not something that his men were not used to.
“Obviously it was in a bad condition. But the Cambodia players are already used to it because it is the same over there.
“No matter the condition, pressuring the opponent is the same thing, and that is something we did not do today and have to fix before the AFF Cup.
“But the Malaysian team played really well and seeing the new players today, it looks like you guys have a good future ahead,” he said.
Malaysia will play the Maldives in another Tier 1 International match on December 14 at Kuala Lumpur Stadium in Cheras.
Their AFF Cup campaign will begin on December 21 against Myanmar, followed by Laos on December 24, Vietnam on December 27, and Singapore on January 3. – The Vibes, December 10, 2022
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