PETALING JAYA: National interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe praised his side’s commanding 6-0 win over Singapore in their final Group A match of the FIFA Asean Cup despite missing out on the final on goal difference.
Harimau Malaya recorded one of their biggest wins over their Causeway rivals in decades at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung on Thursday (Oct 1).
Indonesia, however, booked their place in the final after thrashing Bangladesh 9-2 at the Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.
Both teams finished level on points and goal difference, but Indonesia advanced after scoring 11 goals compared to Malaysia’s nine.
Indonesia will face Thailand in the final on Oct 5, while Malaysia will take on Vietnam in the third-place playoff.
"I would like to congratulate all our players. These types of games really give us a good feeling and vibe," said Cheng Hoe.
"It’s a bit disappointing that we didn’t qualify for the final, but I am very pleased with the boys’ attitude and the way we played. They gave everything on the pitch.
"We have to accept the reality that we didn’t reach the final, but we must keep moving forward and stay positive. The team need to keep growing and improving for our next game," he added.
Striker Paulo Josue echoed his coach’s sentiments, saying the team had executed their game plan but still fell short.
"We did our job as planned. We scored a lot of goals, but unfortunately, it was not enough," said the 37-year-old.
"It’s hard to digest, but it is what it is. We need to keep our heads up and focus on finishing the tournament as best as we can."
