All over: A Malaysian player lies on the pitch after the end of the Group B match against Vietnam on Monday. — Bernama
THEY were in the Group of Death and had only three days of preparations, but the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) still had targeted the Harimau Muda to get into the football final in Cambodia.
It turned out to be a pipe dream.
After a great start where the Malaysians thrashed Laos 5-1 in Group B, it fizzled out. They lost the next tie 0-2 against Thailand.
And, in the do-or-die game against Vietnam, they came apart. E. Elavarasan’s boys not just faltered to a 1-2 defeat at the Visakha Stadium on Monday, they also saw red – twice.
Substitute Safwan Mazlan, who came on in the 75th minute, had just four minutes on the field. He was sent off for clashing with a Vietnam player in an off-the-ball incident.
Three minutes later, Najmudin Akmal Kamal Akmal was given the marching orders for a second yellow.
At that point Malaysia were already trailing 1-2, with striker Nguyen Van Tung putting Vietnam ahead in the seventh and 33rd minute and Aiman Afif Md Afizul pulling one back in the 43rd.With the sending-offs, a comeback was impossible – and so was the dream of getting into the final.
This is the ninth time Malaysia have missed the SEA Games semi-final.
In Hanoi, they qualified for the last four but lost the bronze medal playoff against Indonesia.
Elavarasan felt Malaysia could have done better. He wished his boys had been wiser in the wet conditions.
“In conditions like that, with wet weather, the game gets very aggressive. Some uncalled for decisions were made. We went off balance,” he said.
On the refereeing, which many felt was too strict towards Malaysia, Elavarasan said: “We can’t question the referee; his decisions are final. Experienced people will know how to deal with these conditions.”
“We are out of semi-final contention but we must stay positive. The expectations and hopes were high, but our performance is improving. For me, the players gave their all.
Elavarasan stressed that their development was progressing well and believed they were fulfilling the “Harimau Malaya” DNA as set out by national coach Kim Pan-gon.
“These boys will get better in the future. They have what it takes to be drafted into the senior squad one day.”
Malaysia will look to restore some pride when they take on Singapore at the Visakha Stadium on May 11.
“We want to finish this outing on a high,” said Elavarasan.
