Kim Swee’s team stay perfect to earn their spot in final

Malaysian skipper Mohd Irfan Fazail (second from left) celebrates with team-mates after scoring the equaliser against Myanmar during the Merdeka Tournament at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan on Monday.

KUANTAN: Malaysia’s Under-23 team came from behind to edge Myanmar 2-1 for a place in the final of the Merdeka Tournament at the Darul Makmur Stadium on Monday.

Malaysia trailed by an own goal, courtesy of Mohd Zubir Azmi in the 37th minute but they gamely fought back to score two goals in the second half through skipper Irfan Fazail (64th) and Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor (78th) for a well-deserved victory.

Malaysian coach Ong Kim Swee made two changes to the team who beat Singapore 1-0 on Saturday by bringing in rightback Mohd Azrif Nasrulhaq for K. Reuben and midfielder Mohd Nazmi Faiz Mansor for S. Sivanesan.

The Malaysians got off to a bright start with winger Wan Zack coming close to opening accounts as early as the second minute after he dribbled past three Myanmar players but he squandered the chance.

The move set the tempo for the match as the Kim Swee’s men dominated the match but could not cap off their attacking moves with a goal.

The homesters were stunned in the 37th minute when Nay Lin Tun’s header from a corner kick was palmed away by goalkeeper Izham Tarmizi only to hit Zubir’s legs and bounced into goal to give Myanmar the lead.

Kim Swee’s decision to start the match with playmaker Nazmi in a bid to wrest control of the midfield backfired as it left striker A. Thamil Arasu isolated up front.

Malaysia started the second half more aggressively and they had the Myanmar defence backpedalling.