AFF Suzuki Cup 2012: Harimau Malaya Bangkit Tewaskan Laos 4-1

Oleh SURYATI MOHD NOR (mStar Online)

Safee Sali (kiri) meraikan jaringan kedua Malaysia pada minit ke-66. Foto M. AZHAR ARIF / THE STAR

KUALA LUMPUR: Percaturan ketua jurulatih kebangsaan, Datuk K.Rajagobal untuk meraih kemenangan pertama pada aksi Piala AFF Suzuki akhirnya tercapai selepas menewaskan Laos 4-1 pada aksi Kumpulan B Piala AFF Suzuki yang berlangsung di Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil, Rabu.

Tewas 3-0 pada aksi pertama menentang Singapura pada Ahad lalu, ternyata skuad Harimau Malaya tampil dengan corak permainan yang lebih bertenaga dengan menguasai permainan selain turut melakukan beberapa percubaan ke arah gol.

Peluang untuk mencipta gol pertama hadir menerusi penyerang utama, Safee Sali pada minit ke-10, tetapi gagal disempurnakan dengan tepat.

Namun lima minit selepas itu, kapten negara, Safiq Rahim berjaya menghasilkan jaringan sulung melalui sepakan percuma yang tepat ke arah gawang yang dikawal Sengphachan Bounthisanh.

Sementara itu, aksi hambar penjaga gol utama negara, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat pada aksi pertama sebelum ini menjadikannya sebagai pemanas bangku pada aksi malam Rabu dengan digantikan Farizal Marlias.

Kegembiraan mendahului 1-0 tidak berpanjangan apabila Khonesavanh Sivavong menyamakan kedudukan pada minit ke-38 apabila tendangannya terkena kaki pertahanan negara, Mohamad Aidil Zafuan sebelum bola melambung ke arah gol.

Permainan separuh masa pertama kedua-dua pasukan terikat seri 1-1.

Bersambung ke babak kedua, Malaysia melakukan satu pertukaran dengan mengeluarkan Azmi Muslim digantikan Zubir Azmi.

Pasukan Laos yang dibimbing jurulatih dari Jepun, Kokichi Kimura dilihat bangkit melakukan permainan yang lebih pantas, namun benteng pertahanan Harimau Malaya gandingan Shakir Shaari, Fadhli Shaas serta Aidil Zafuan menyukarkan pemain-pemain Laos menembusi kawasan kotak penalti.

Selepas hampir tujuh kali gagal melakukan percubaan tepat, akhirnya Safee berjaya menambah jaringan kedua negara pada minit-66 melalui hantaran Wan Zack Haikal.

Permainan semakin rancak apabila Wan Zack menambah satu lagi jaringan Malaysia pada minit ke-75 selepas melakukan tandukan cantik di depan pintu gol.

Tiga cukup dengan tiga gol, skuad Harimau Malaya terus garang menambah jaringan menerusi Khyril Muhymeen yang gol keempat pada minit ke-79 selepas beberapa minit menggantikan Safee.

Kemenangan ini juga kembali menghidupkan semula harapan seluruh peminat bola sepak tanah air untuk melihat pasukan negara mara ke pusingan seterusnya sebelum bertemu pasukan Indonesia pada aksi terkakhir peringkat kumpulan Sabtu ini.

Satu perlawanan peringkat kumpulan ini yang turut berlangsung petang Rabu, menyaksikan Singapura tewas 1-0 kepada Indonesia.

BARISAN PEMAIN:

MALAYSIA: Mohd Farizal Marlias, Mahalli Jasuli, Mohamad Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak, Mohamad Azmi Muslim, Mohamad Fadhli Mohd Shas, Safiq Rahim (kapten), S. Kunalan, Mohd Shakir Shaari, Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor, Norshahrul Idlan Talaha (Baddrol Bakhtiar), Mohd Safee Mohd Sali (Mohd Khyrill Muhymeen Zambri).

LAOS: Sengphachan Bounthisanh, Ketsada Souksavanh, Soukaphone Vongchiengkham, Keoviengpheth Lithideth, Visay Phaphouvanin (kapten) (Daoneua Siviengxay), Kanlaya Sysomvang, Khonesavanh Sihavong, Phatthana Syvilay, Viengsavanh Sayyaboun, Kovanh Namthavixay, Khampeng Sayavutthi.

AFF SUZUKI CUP 2012 : PM mahu skuad Harimau Malaya bangkit

KUALA LUMPUR 26 Nov. - Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak mahu agar skuad bola sepak kebangsaan, Harimau Malaya bangkit pada aksi selanjutnya dan sekali gus mempertahankan kejuaraan Piala AFF Suzuki yang dimenangi 2010.

Menurut Najib, kekalahan kepada Singapura pada perlawanan pembukaan kejohanan berprestij itu malam tadi perlu dibalas oleh anak buah Datuk K.Rajagobal kerana rakyat mahu melihat skuad itu menang pada aksi selepas ini.

"Walaupun keputusan semalam (malam tadi) tidak berpihak kepada kita, kita mahu Harimau Malaya bangkit semula. Malaysia! menangi perlawanan selanjutnya," kata beliau di laman twitternya, hari ini.

Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Sukan/20121126/su_13/PM-mahu-skuad-Harimau-Malaya-bangkit#ixzz2DJmfxsFu 

© Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd 

AFF SUZUKI CUP 2012 : Indonesia Minnows hold Asean powerhouse to a draw

Posted on November 26, 2012

by THE START online

Hard fall: Laos’ Ketsada Souksavanh is pushed by Indonesia’s Irfan Bachdim during the AFF Suzuki Cup Group B match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last night. The match ended 2-2.

KUALA LUMPUR: Laos arrived saying they are not here to make up the numbers.

Malaysia would be wise to take notice as the Laotians showed their capabilities with a superb 2-2 draw with 2010 runners-up Indonesia at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last night.

In fact, Laos came close to victory in a highly-charged match that saw a player from each side being given the marching orders.

The so called minnows were leading 2-1 with just a minute left when Indonesia’s substitute Vendry Mofu struck the equaliser that gave his side a precious point and saved their blushes.

Laos went one up in the 30th minute courtesy of a spot kick converted by Khampeng Sayavutthi after Vilayout Sayyabounsou was fouled by Indonesia’s goalkeeper Endra Suprapto.

Endra earned the first red card of the tournament for his rash challenge.

That forced the stunned Garuda to sacrifice winger Oktovianus Maniani to bring in reserve goalkeeper Wahyu Tri Nugroho.

The drama, however, continued. With Indonesia stepping up a gear and pinning Laos in defence, winger Sopha Saysana buckled. He lost his head with a bad tackle on Andik Vermansah and was shown a straight red by referee Ng Kai Lam of Hong Kong.

Indonesia continued to attack and were finally rewarded when Raphael Maitimo equalised in the 42nd minute.

A more organised and calmer Laos were a different side after the break. They dictated the pace and some fine interchanges in midfield saw Indonesia reeling. Indonesia took out their ineffective skipper Bambang Pamungkas and sent on Vendry in the 64th minute.

But Laos were not to be stopped.

They put the ball into the net in the 70th minute but Keonviengpheth Lithideth was judged to have handled the ball before his shot and that earned him a yellow card.

The long-awaited goal finally came in the 79th after Lithideth weaved past two defenders to score a screamer. Laos 2-1.

But Indonesia never lost heart and pushed up once again in search of the equaliser.

Laos lost their nerve under pressure and Mofu pounced to make it 2-2.

Laos coach Kokichi Kimura said he was satisfied with his team’s performance but felt they were unlucky not to win.

“I don’t know if the red card we got was justified but that’s football. We got in front first and the boys did well. I hope it will be better against Malaysia next,” he said.

Indonesia’s coach Nil Maizar was full of praise for his team’s fighting display.

“I’m very proud of the boys. They kept fighting until the end. It was a difficult match as Laos are no pushovers. But we got a point and I can accept that,” he said.

AFF SUZUKI CUP 2012 : Tigers are pussycats in the face of Lions’ onslaught

Posted on November 26, 2012

by THE STAR online

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia looked lost in every corner of the pitch and hopeless in front of goal as they crashed to a humiliating 3-0 defeat to bitter rivals Singapore in their opening AFF Suzuki Cup Group B match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

It was a similar start to their 2010 campaign when they lost 5-1 to Indonesia in their opening match. But, then, Malaysia went on to win the tournament.

Singapore were in total control with skipper Shahril Ishak scoring a brace in the 32nd and 37th minutes with substitute Aleksandar Duric adding the third in the 75th minute to hand the Lions a perfect start.

Malaysian Norshahrul Idlan Talaha (C-R) is challenged by Singaporean Baihakki Khaizan during the Group B match of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2012 between Malaysia and Singapore at Bukit Jalil Stadium near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 25 November 2012. AFF Suzuki Cup is the Southeast Asia soccer championship. - EPA

Yesterday’s defeat was Malaysia’s 12th in their last 13 meetings with their neighbours.

The writing was on the wall for Malaysia, who had a poor run-up to the tournament with defeats to Vietnam (1-0) and Thailand (2-0) and 1-1 draws with Hong Kong and Bangladesh in a series of friendly matches.

National coach Datuk K. Rajagopal only made two changes to the squad which was held 1-1 by Bangladesh in their final warm-up match last Tuesday.

Rajagopal brought in goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat and Mohd Azmi Muslim and the duo were at fault for conceding the goals.

A miscommunication between Fahmi and Azmi enabled Shahril to sneak in the opener after collecting a long range pass from Mohd Shaiful Esah.

Five minutes later, highly-rated Fahmi blundered again as he palmed Shahdan Sulaiman’s free-kick behind forcing Mohd Fadhli Shas to clear off the line. However, the weak clearance was headed in by the lurking Shahril.

The Malaysian attack led by Norshahrul Idlan Talaha and Mohd Safee Sali could not best the Singapore defence marshalled by Baihaki Khaizan. who was dominant throughout.

Malaysian skipper Mohd Safiq Rahim and Amar Rohidan could not spark the attacks from the middle of the park, while flankers S. Kunalan and Mohd Khyrill Muyhmeen Zambri were ineffective with their predictable play.

The final humiliation came when the 42-year-old Duric, who replaced Shahril in the 73rd minute, showed how easy it was to beat the Malaysian defence by scoring the Lions’ third goal after being on the pitch for only two minutes.

Rajagopal brought on wingers Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor and Azamuddin Akil in a futile attempt to get back into the game.

But they were never going to be a threat — such is the pathetic state of Malaysian football.

All that time, all that money spent on a fool’s errand. Call the cops.

It is a crime to lose to Singapore like this.

AFF SUZUKI CUP 2012: Malaysia Tewas 3-0 Kepada Singapura

Isnin November 26, 2012

Oleh SURYATI MOHD NOR

Penyerang negara, Nor Shahrul Idlan diasak pemain Singapura, Baihakki Khaizan (kiri) pada aksi peringkat kumpulan Piala AFF Suzuki pada Ahad.

KUALA LUMPUR: Pasukan Malaysia gagal mengekang asakan skuad Singapura selepas tewas 3-0 pada aksi Kumpulan B Piala AFF Suzuki di Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil, Ahad.

Biarpun skuad Datuk K. Rajagobal mula melakukan serangan ke kubu lawan, namun mereka gagal melakukan cubaan tepat ke arah gol.

Penyerang paling bernilai negara, Norsharul Idlan Talaha dikawal ketat oleh pemain-pemain pertahanan Singapura.

Kealpaan benteng pertahanan Malaysia digunakan sepenuhnya oleh Shahril Ishak pada minit ke-31 sekaligus menewaskan penjaga gol negara, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat.

Enam minit selepas itu, Shahril sekali lagi menjaringkan gol melalui tandukan sebelum babak pertama permainan tamat.

Sementara itu, pada babak kedua perlawanan, skuad Harimau Malaya bangkit melakukan pergerakan lebih pantas tetapi gagal menghampiri pintu gol yang dikawal rapi, Mohamad Izwan Mahbud.

Kelekaan pemain pertahanan sekali lagi memberi peluang kepada Singapura menambah jaringan apabila pemain gantian,Aleksander Quric tanpa kawalan menanduk mudah ke arah gawang pada minit ke-74.

Keputusan 3-0 mengakhiri permainan walaupun pada masa tambahan cubaan Nor Shahrul Idlan hampir meledak gol pertama negara, namun terkena tiang gol.

Rajagobal ternyata kecewa dengan keputusan ini sekaligus menuntur semua pemainnya mengubah keputusan pad aksi kedua bertemu laos nanti.

Katanya, kesilapan yang dilakukan oleh penjaga gol negara, Khairul Che Fahmi pada separuh masa pertama menyebabkan moral pemain pasukan kebangsaan terus merosot.

"Dia (Khairul Fahmi) membuat kesilapan dan memberi kesan kepada moral pemain...sejujurnya saya tidak menyangka kita akan tewas dengan keputusan malam ini.

"Saya cuma menjangkakan kita kalah dengan keputusan 0-1 atau seri dengan pasukan Singapura," katanya kepada pemberita selepas perlawanan tersebut.

Selepas keputuisan ini, beliau mengakui saingan mencari mata dalam peringkat kumpulan ini semakin sukar.

"Kita harus menempuhi jalan sukar selepas ini dan suka atau tidak, kita perlu mencatatkan kemenangan dalam dua baki perlawanan," katanya.

Selain itu, jurulatih Singapura Radojko Avramovic berkata beliau berpuas hati dengan prestasi anak buahnya dan berharap skuadnya dapat terus mengekalkan momentum dalam menentang Indonesia Rabu ini dan Laos pada 1 Dis ini.

"Ini adalah permulaan baik dan saya tabik anak buah saya atas usaha cemerlang mereka. Kadang-kadang kami bernasib baik untuk menghasilkan jaringan dan adakala sebaliknya," katanya.

Mengulas pertemuan antara Laos dan Indonesia sebelum ini, Avramovic berkata beliau terkejut dengan prestasi Laos yang berjaya mengikat lawannya 2-2.

"Secara umum, Laos mengejutkan saya. Saya percaya mereka datang untuk memenangi semua perlawanan dan tenaga yang ditunjukkan oleh Laos pada perlawanan pembukaan adalah hebat," katanya.

Malaysia, selaku juara bertahan akan menentang Laos Rabu ini sebelum mengakhiri saingan peringkat kumpulan dengan menentang Indonesia pada 1 Dis ini.

SENARAI PEMAIN:

MALAYSIA: Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Mohamad Fadhli Mohd Shas, Mohd BunyaminUmar, Mohd Azmi Muslim (Mahalli Jasuli), Mohamad Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak, Safiq Rahim (kapten), Amar Rohidan (Azamuddin Mohd Akil), Mohd Khyrill Muhymeen Zambri (Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor), S. Kunalan, Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, MohdSafee Mohd Sali.

SINGAPURA: Mohamad Izwan Mahbud, Mohamad Shaiful Esah Nain (Muhammad IrwanShah), Baihakki Khaizan, Mustafic Fahrudin, Daniel Mark Bennett, ShahdanSulaiman, Shi Jiayi, Hariss Harun, Mohd Shahril Ishak (kapten)(AleksandarDuric), Muhammad Safuwan Baharudin, Mohammad Khairul Amri Kamal.