by Theleaders-Online | October 26, 2019 3:21 am
SUBANG JAYA: The national under-18 team (U-18) stayed on the right track for the 2020 AFC U-19 football championship qualifiers by routing Sri Lanka 4-0 in a Tier 2 international friendly here today.
Despite resting sensational striker Luqman Hakim Shamsudin, PKNP FC young star Muhd Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi and several other players, Malaysia proved too strong for the visitors at the Subang Jaya Municipal Council Stadium.
The squad, under ad hoc coach Brad Maloney, shot into the lead through Muhammad Muslihuddin Atiq Mat Zaid in the second minute before bad weather halted the match for 30 minutes.
Sri Lanka tightened their defence on resumption of play, forcing Malaysia to work harder before Muhammad Fahmi Daniel Mohd Zaaim added another goal in the 29th minute.
Four minutes later, Malaysia went three up when Muhammad Muslihuddin scored again.
Muhammad Faris Kamardin wrapped up the match for Malaysia when he scored in the 69th minute, giving Malaysia their second win in their preparation for the qualifying round, which begins in Cambodia on Nov 2.
Malaysia, who finished runners-up in the 2019 AFF U-18 championship, had won 1-0 and lost 1-3 in their two away friendly matches against the United Arab Emirates.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Maloney said he is pleased with the performance of the team, especially since the players tested out the tactics he taught them.
“The players were really trying to implement what we were practising; I can see a lot of signs on that.
“There is a lot of things that you always can improve on; I am not looking at anything specific right now. We will see how the next game goes as well,” he said.
The national team will face Taiwan in another friendly at the same venue tomorrow.
Malaysia, drawn with Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei and the Northern Mariana Islands in Group G, are expected to leave for the AFC qualifiers on Tuesday.
— BERNAMA
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