Malaysia oozed class as they hammered Thailand 3-0 in their final
preliminary round match at the Darulmakmur Stadium in Kuantan.
And with Myanmar defeating Singapore 2-0 in another match played
at the Temerloh Stadium, they will take on Malaysia in what will be an
intriguing clash between two teams who have stood out in the 41st
Pestabola Merdeka.
Malaysia made several changes to their starting line but key
players Wan Zack Haikal and A. Thamil Arasu were left out due to injury and
suspension respectively. Both are however expected back for the final on
Saturday.
Coach Ong Kim Swee opted to play mostly players who were with him
in Europe with three exceptions in T.Reuben, S.Sivanesan and Mohd Zubir Mohd
Azmi.
“It was a good performance and it has given me a selection headache
ahead of Saturday’s final. But it is a welcomed headache and I was impressed by
the determination of the players fielded for the first time who wanted to prove
they were worthy of a place in the starting XI,” said Kim Swee.
“We moved the ball well and I must reiterate that I pick players
on their overall contribution to the team and not just because they score goals
or are big names”
The two teams started of slowly, feeling each other up, with play
confined mostly to the midfield area. But as minutes ticked away, Malaysia
started showing more cohesion despite making as much as seven changes to their
starting line-up.
Malaysia took the lead in the 11th minute through Md
Nasir Basharuddin whose shot from the edge of the box sailed through a sea of
legs into goal catching Thailand keeper Arikhan Same unsighted.
Thailand had a golden chance to draw level in the 23rd
minute when Pinyo Inpinit burst through on the right but Malaysian custodian
Mohd Izham Tarmizi pulled off a fine save, diving full length to send the ball
around the post.
S. Sivanesan burst through the middle in the 25th
minute but with only the Thai keeper top beat, he balloned his shot over the
bar.
Sivanesan atoned for his miss by setting up the second goal as he
beat the offside trap and crossed to Md Rozaimi Ab Rahman who had the simplest
of tasks to guide the ball into goal with Same beaten to give Malaysia a 2-0
lead in the 27th minute.
Though Thailand made several inroads in the second half, they only
came close in the 65th minute when they were awarded a free kick at
the edge of the penalty box. However the Malaysian wall stood firm to deny
Kasidech Wattayawong.
Off a fast counter in the 80th minute, Rozaimi broke
through and unleasshed a shot that had goal written all over it with Arikhan
beaten all the way and Malaysia had a 3-0 lead, thus pulling Myanmar into the
final with them.
The goals for Myanmar were scored by Kyaw Ko Ko in the 14th
minute and 90th minutes. Though both Myanmar and Thailand finished
with four points, Myanmar sneaked through on goal difference.
