Home advantage: La’vere Corbin-Ong said that the home crowd support will be added fuel for Malaysia to go the extra mile to avenge the loss in Muscat.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian football team leftback La’vere Corbin-Ong seems to have a “personal” score to settle against Oman in their return fixture of the World Cup 2026-Asian Cup 2027 second-round qualifier at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil tomorrow.
In the 2-0 loss to the Middle East outfit in Muscat last Thursday, the 32-year-old Johor Darul Ta’zim ace was one of the most fouled players on the pitch.
The Omanis gave Corbin little space for his overlapping runs, and he found it hard to deliver those pinpoint crosses from the left which can create much trouble for opponents.
And the hard knocks he took from his markers have steeled him into a more combative mood, as he rallies his teammates to get on the offensive without fear to get a win on their home ground.
“In Oman, they had a tactical plan to stop me from making runs forward and delivering crosses. I was fouled quite often and it was frustrating,” said Corbin.
“I guess I may have to deal with that again but it won’t stop me from trying to execute our game plan at home. If we can operate as a unit, with each player doing his job well, we have a good chance of winning.”
Corbin added that the home crowd support will be added fuel for them to go the extra mile to avenge the loss in Muscat.
“With the strong support, we will be bolder in our approach as we don’t want to let the fans down. The atmosphere will make a huge difference.”
Corbin said there was not much to separate Malaysia and Oman despite the difference in rankings, given the Harimau Malaya’s positive performance in the 2-0 away loss.
“They are ranked 80th while we are 132nd, but we took the game to them in the first match. To lose 2-0 was a bitter pill to swallow, but the positives we can take from it will be a boost to our confidence.”
