KUALA LUMPUR: Watch out, Tajikistan! Harimau Malaya are gunning for you next.
After stunning India 4-2 in the opening match of the Merdeka Tournament on Friday night, the Harimau Malaya are set to meet Tajikistan in the final on Tuesday.
And coach Pan Kim-gon has sounded an early warning that his team stand a good chance to make amends for their defeat by Tajikistan in the Thai King’s Cup tournament last year.
“We still remember that day (Thai King’s Cup final) ... both teams could not perform very well due to heavy rain before (the game) ... we lost via a penalty shootout.
“We should have a good chance to make amends in the next game, especially playing in front of our home fans, but we must respect who they (Tajikistan) are because their ranking is higher than ours,” he told a post-match press conference after world No. 134 Malaysia’s 4-2 win over world No. 102 India last night.
Last year, Malaysia’s hopes of ending a 44-year wait for glory in the Thai King’s Cup ended in tatters after losing 3-0 in a penalty shootout to Tajikistan in the final at the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium in Chiang Mai.
The final of the 48th edition of the Thai King’s Cup was forced into a penalty shootout after both teams failed to break the deadlock in regulation time.
According to the latest FIFA ranking, Tajikistan are placed higher than Malaysia in 110th spot.
Tajikistan advanced to the final of Merdeka Tournament 2023 after receiving a ‘bye’ following Palestine’s 11th hour withdrawal on Monday due to the tense situation in their country. — Bernama
