Harimau Muda can’t wait to make amends in return leg

Getting intense: Nur Azfar Fikri (third from right) controlling the ball while being marked by three Laotian players during the AFF Under-23 Championship Group B match. — Photo by AFF

PETALING JAYA: No one likes a defeat and it’s the same with Harimau Muda who are now aiming to restore their battered pride in the AFF Under-23 Championship.

The team have promised to go all out to beat Laos with a higher goal margin in the Group B return-leg match at the Morodek Techo Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, tomorrow to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

If the aggregate score of both matches end in a draw after extra time, then the winner will be decided by a penalty shootout.

Coach Brad Maloney said the boys were downcast but he would fan the fire in them to fight back.

“We know we could have done better but I will make sure to instil the confidence in them,” said Maloney.

The Australian hoped the young boys would not be compared to the seniors.

“I know the fans want success after Malaysia were booted out of the AFF Suzuki Cup group stage but it’s unfair to compare them,” he said. “To judge our performance based on that isn’t right. We are here to give the boys some international exposure.

“There are many new players here and only some are from the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup qualifiers last year.

“We are here to learn, see our weaknesses and fix them before we go to the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan in June.”

For the return match, Maloney does not intend to change the playing style but wants his charges to be firing away upfront.

“We created 14 chances against Laos but didn’t finish well. We want a positive result and we will perform in the way that we still believe in, with the hope of scoring more goals.”

Malaysia’s solitary goal against Laos came from A. Selvan and naturally, he earned praises from Maloney.

“Selvan worked tirelessly during his time on the pitch and performed well. It’s great for him to get a goal, and we hope he continues to grow,” said Maloney.

The best way for Maloney and his boys to silence the detractors is to let their action do the talking – and that is by getting the goals against Laos.