Perlawanan Persahabatan : Malaysia vs Maldives

Maldives tidak akan 'tunduk' kepada Malaysia

Nor Azam shines in Malaysia's slim win over Maldives

Malaysia carved out a 3-0 win the final preparation game before the start of the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup as Maldives were defeated at Bukit Jalil.

For the first time since Tan Cheng Hoe took over national team head coach role from Eduardo Vingada, he may have finally found the midfield lynchpin that the team was crying out for. Nazmi Faiz filled the role for a brief period at the start of the year but his drop of form in the latter part of 2018 meant that Cheng Hoe was left searching for an alternative solution and it finally came during the Maldives match.

Nor Azam Azih is not an unfamiliar name in Malaysian football but for various reasons, had not been able to be used by Cheng Hoe in past friendlies despite being named in the initial call-up squad. Everything went through Nor Azam in the 45 minutes that he was on the pitch. Right from the start it was obvious that he was given the creative licence in the team and his performance warranted that opportunity.

In the mercurial Pahang midfielder, Malaysia have a real game-changer who not only have the vision to see movement on the pitch but also has the technical qualities to execute those passes. Right from the start his understanding with club colleagues in Mohamadou Sumareh was evident as Nor Azam managed to slide in the right winger beyond Maldives’ left back time and again.

The goal came after 16 minutes played as Norshahrul Idlan Talaha picked out Zaquan Adha in the box and the Malaysia captain finally broke his five-game drought with a very smart finish. But the intensity from the home side dropped dramatically after that and Maldives were able to pick holes in Malaysia’s defence with shots of their own.

Khairul Fahmi was called into action once in the first half to close to his right hand side from Ali Fasir’s shot. The Melaka keeper also had to be on his toes in the second half to push away Ibrahim Hussain’s shot in the 60th minute.

Cheng Hoe used up his full allocated six changes to give the likes of Hazwan Bakri, Adam Nor Azlin and Safawi Rasid a run out. The changes gave the Maldives side even more chance to get into the game as Malaysia were forced to defend more than they anticipated.

Petar Segrt's team constantly found space behind Malaysia's defence in the second half and that is something that Cheng Hoe will have to work on as before they face tougher opponents in the coming weeks

That said, the approximately 5000 fans in attendance were able to see Malaysia close out the match and even tripled the lead through Safawi in the 81st minute and Sumareh in the third minute of added time to put the team in a confident mood ahead of the start of the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup on Thursday away to Cambodia.

Safawi added the gloss on the result but the one that the fans should get excited at the prospect of seeing more, is that of Nor Azam in the playmaking role at the base of midfield after the 23-year-old Maran born player proved his fitness in the 45 mintues that he was used. 

Cheng Hoe will named his final squad of 23 for the AFF in the coming days and Nor Azam Azih has to be one of the first names on the list.

Harimau Malaya gigit jari

Kempunan tamatkan badi kekalahan selepas seri 2-2 menentang Mongolia

PENYERANG Harimau Malaya, Ahmad Hazwan Bakri (kiri) diasak oleh pemain pertahanan Mongolia pada perlawanan persahabatan antarabangsa di Stadium Nasional, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur malam tadi.

MASIH kempunan. Aksi sulung Harimau Malaya di bawah kendalian jurulatih Tan Cheng Hoe gagal menamatkan kemarau kemenangan apabila sekadar seri 2-2 menentang Mongolia pada aksi persahabatan di Stadium Nasional, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur malam tadi.

Keserian tersebut memanjangkan lagi rekod buruk skuad negara yang masih gagal meraih sebarang kemenangan sejak kali terakhir dilakukan ketika menang ke atas Kemboja 3-2 pada aksi Piala Persekutuan Bola Sepak ASEAN (AFF) 2016.

Malaysia yang berada di ranking ke-178 Persekutuan Bola Sepak Antarabangsa (FIFA) dilihat bergelut untuk mengatasi skuad Genghis Khan yang menduduki tangga lebih rendah iaitu 189.

Pada aksi malam tadi, Harimau Malaya terlebih dulu berada di depan menerusi jaringan sendiri kapten Mongolia, Turbat Daginaa yang menanduk bola hasil sepakan penjuru Safawi Rasid pada minit ke-31

Bagaimanapun, kelebihan skuad negara itu tidak bertahan lama apabila Mongolia yang dikendalikan Michael Weiss berjaya menyamakan kedudukan menerusi Enkhbileg Purevdorj pada minit ke-43.

Bersambung pada babak kedua, kemasukan pemain gantian, Akhyar Abdul Rashid memberikan kegembiraan kepada 10,200 penyokong negara apabila meledak gol kedua Harimau Malaya pada minit ke-65.

Namun, benteng pertahanan negara sekali lagi dihukum selepas Mongolia kembali menyamakan kedudukan menerusi sepakan percuma Gankhuyag Ser-Od-Yanjiv yang menewaskan penjaga gol Malaysia, Muhammad Haziq Nadzli pada minit ke-71.

Skuad Mongolia yang dibarisi sebahagian besar pemain semi-pro cuba mengasak benteng pertahanan Malaysia, namun keputusan 2-2 kekal sehingga tamat perlawanan.

Malaysia XI lwn Liverpool FC (1-1)

Sekitar aksi persahabatan Malaysia XI lwn Liverpool FC tadi yang berkesudahan seri 1-1.

pic > mukabuku