MALAYSIA kept their semi-final hopes alive in the men’s football competition after slogging to beat Cambodia 4-0 in a Group A match at the Chao Anouvong Stadium in Vientiane yesterday.
The Malaysian team lived dangerously throughout the match before goals from Abdul Manaf Mamat (35th), Norsharul Idlan Talaha (78th), S. Kunalan (81st) and Safiq Rahim (86th, penalty) earned them all three points.
Goalkeeper Mohd Sharbinee Allawee also deserves praise for his heroics, stopping a couple of sure goals and a penalty in the 52nd minute.
It was a morale boosting win for the national Under-23 boys after their demoralising 1-3 defeat by Vietnam on Sunday.
National coach K. Rajagopal must have heaved a huge sigh of relief after the victory.
He must have feared the worst as he watched his players struggle to undo the gutsy Cambodians, who packed their defence.
The first chance for Malaysia came in the 14th minute when Norsharul picked up a through ball from Ahmad Muslim’s clearance but, in his haste, shot straight at Cambodian goalkeeper Samrith Seiha.
Cambodia, under coach Scott O’Donnel, gave the Malaysians a scare when striker Khim Borey shot wide from close range although he had only goalkeeper Mohd Sharbinee to beat in the 25th minute.
Then came the breakthrough that Malaysia craved for when Abdul Manaf latched onto a loose ball into the box before rounding Samrith to score the opening goal in the 35th minute.
But Malaysia nearly paid for their complacency when defender Ahmad Muslim conceded a penalty when he fell Kouch Sokumpheak in the box in the 52nd minute.
Kouch scored from the spot kick but referee Saleem Ali of Maldives disallowed the goal as a Cambodian player had encroached into the box before the kick was taken.
The referee ordered the spot kick to be retaken and, this time, Sharbinee guessed right to stop Kouch’s attempt.
Norsharul, who had earlier squandered at least three sitters, finally found the net with a stiff grounder in the 78th minute before Kunalan scored off a goalmouth melee in the 81st minute.
Kunalan then won a penalty when he was brought down inside the box in the 86th minute and Safiq stepped up to convert the spot kick.
Malaysia, who beat Timor Leste 11-0 in their opening game, are third in the standings with six points.
On Friday, Malaysia will wrap up their fixtures against defending champions Thailand in a direct fight for a place in the semi-finals.
Thailand and Vietnam lead the standings with seven points each. The Thais, who beat Timor Leste 9-0 yesterday, lead on better goal difference.
Vietnam are in the driver’s seat as they play Timor Leste in their last fixture on Friday.
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