# Referee Christopher reduces Malaysia to nine players with two sackings in injury time
Australian referee Christopher Beath was in the limelight at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka on Tuesday night as Malaysia snatched a 1-1 draw against Hong Kong in a Group B Asia Cup qualifying round match.
In a spate of three minutes of added time Christopher reduced Malaysia to nine players. First he sacked defender Rizal Ghazali – for coming onto the field after injury without seeking permission from the match officials. It was his second yellow in the match.
Minutes later it was defender Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak’s turn to be sacked after picking up a yellow card in the first half. Aidil deserves to be thrown out when he questioned the referee and pushed the Australian’s hand away for awarding Hong Kong a penalty.
With the scored tied at 1-1 and minutes ticking away Christopher pointed to the spot after Alessandro Leonardo was felled inside the box by substitute Akram Mahinan in the last minute of injury time.
Luckily for Malaysia, Leonardo’s spot kick was brilliantly saved by rookie goalkeeper Hafizul Khairul Nizam Jothy.
Leonardo was quick to pick up the rebound but sent the ball inches wide off the left post and Malaysia held on for an important point to keep their hopes alive as the added time became a good six minutes.
It was Leonardo who put the visitors ahead in the 53rd minute with a looping shot that beat Hafizul. However, Malaysia were back in the picture with the equaliser three minutes later.
A long range attempt by Safiq Rahim was deflected to the left and Syazwan Zainon was at the right place at the right time to send the ball into the Hong Kong net before goalkeeper Yap Hung Fai could recover.
It was a tale of missed chances for Malaysia that cost them full points and left new Portuguese coach Nelo Vingada still looking for his first win since taking over the hot seat.
Under Vingada, the Harimau Malaya were beaten 2-1 by Lebanon in their first match in the Asia Cup qualifier. Two friendly matches followed with Malaysia losing 2-1 to Syria and 1-0 to Myanmar.Â
Their next Asia Cup qualifying match is against North Korea in October. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
