The national football team ran out 3-1 winners over Cambodia to redeem some pride for Malaysia in an international “A” friendly at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh on Monday.
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The win came in the wake of a 2-0 defeat to Chinese Taipei in Taipei last Friday in Malaysia’s two-match friendly tour as part of the preparations for the AFF Suzuki Cup in November.
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It was certainly a bad start for Cambodia’s Japanese World Cupper Keisuke Honda as coach although the Cambodians showed much promise at the start of the match and even grabbed a 17th-minute lead.
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It was a gem of aĀ goal by SoeuyĀ VisalĀ whose volley hit the underside of the bar before Malaysian custodian Khairul Fahmi Che Mat could react after Malaysian defenders failed to clear a Thierry Chantha Bin freekick.
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Khairul, however, came back strong to make some crucial saves on a night the match was delayed for 30 minutes due to heavy rain and the artificial turf made play difficult on a “soggy” pitch.
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Malaysia struggled in the early stages but coach Tan Cheng Hoe made three changes in the 58th minute by bringing on Shahrel Fikri, Amirul Azhan, and Fazly Manan.
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Shahrel, who plays for Thai club Nakhon Ratchasima, was an inspiration to the team and he had a hand in Malaysia’s equalizer by Shahrul Saad on 62 minutes and Syazwan Andik’s second for Malaysia in the 74th minute.
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To round up his contribution to the team Shahrel got his name into the scoresheet two minutes into added time with a stiff shot from inside the box.
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In the AFF Suzuki Cup, the Malaysians are drawn in Group A together with Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar. Malaysia also has lined up several other friendly matches. including Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan and Maldives. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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