PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Under-22 football team led by coach E. Elavarasan have lifted the Merlion Cup for the first time after 41 years.
The Harimau Muda boys beat East Asian nation Hong Kong 2-1 in the final at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore on Sunday (March 26).
Winger Najmudin Akmal Kamal Akmal scored the first goal in the 75th minute, and in the 79th minute, Safwan Mazlan got the second.
Lau Ka Kiu scored Hong Kong's consolation in the 80th minute.
The win was marred by two red cards, with Malaysia striker Haqimi Azim Rosli and Hong Kong striker Maddox Kong sent off by the match referee.
The Merlion Cup was first introduced in 1982, with Australia winning the tournament and Malaysia finishing fourth in that edition.
Keputusan Masa Penuh
Final Merlion Cup 2023 | Ahad, 26 Mac 2023
HONG KONG B-22 1-2 MALAYSIA B-22
Lau Ka Kiu 80’
Najmudin Akmal 74’ Safwan Mazlan 79’#FAM #HarimauMalaya #MerlionCup2023 pic.twitter.com/myNLFEQoj9
— FA Malaysia (@FAM_Malaysia) March 26, 2023
