They rose to the occasion and got the goals fora 3-0 win over Myanmar at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday as Malaysia silenced their critics for a place in the AFF Suzuki Cup semi-finals from Group A.
Malaysia finished second with nine points – one point behind group champions Vietnam who beat Cambodia also 3-0 at the Hang Day Stadium also on Saturday.
Head coach Tan Cheng Hoe, who shut his ears to criticisms hurled at him and the team after the 2-0 defeat to Vietnam at the My Dinh Stadium, said: “It was the commitment, environment, and an improved performance that gave us the win…although we could have done better.”
Malaysia skipper Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak, helped himself to a double after Norshahrul Idlan Talaha opened the scoring on 26 minutes on a night when it was a nightmare for Myanmar centreback Kyaw Soe Moe.
Soe Moe first gave away a penalty in injury time in the first half when he brought down Safawi Rasid. Zaquan stepped up to take the spot-kick and coolly slotted home Malaysia’s second goal. The ball clipped the inside of the left upright and spun into the net.
Malaysia had gone 1-0 up when Syahmi Safari crossed into the box. Gambian-born naturalized Malaysian Mohamadou Sumareh cracked his attempt against the bar but the ball landed nicely for Norshahrul who finished off the golden opportunity.
It was a performance of confidence by Harimau Malaya who knew that only a win would keep them alive in the region’s premier football tournament. Malaysia last reached the final in 2014 but lost to Thailand.
The only time Malaysia won the Suzuki Cup was in 2010 – a year after Malaysia also won the Sea Games gold in Laos.
Malaysia nailed the third goal through a big dose of luck. Soe Moe’s clearance inside the box deflected off Zaquan and the ball looped over goalkeeper Htet Kyaw Zin, catching him stranded upfront in the 88th minute.
One of the biggest football crowd in international matches was seen at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil with more than 80,000 fans cheering the Harimau Malaya.
There were also some 10,000 Myanmar supporters who started leaving the stadium towards the end of the match. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAHÂ
