We’ve to stay sharp
MALAYSIA were left ruing the many missed chances after their 1-1 draw against Myanmar in their opening football match.
And they know they have to sharpen things up before they face hosts Philippines, who will be desperately seeking a win, on Friday.
The Philippines were also held to a 1-1 draw by Cambodia in their opening match on Monday.
Goalscorer Mohd Hadi Fayyadh Abdul Razak, 19, who plays for Japanese club Fagiano Okayama, said the squad’s attacking tactics will have to be be improved ahead of the next game on Nov 29 against the host nation.
“In football, goals are everything; if we don’t score, we don’t win. So we will try to improve our game and score more goals, ” Mohd Hadi told reporters.
Myanmar, who were quick and assertive on the ball, surprised Malaysia with a goal via Kyaw Soe Moe in the 13th minute, but Malaysia equalised in the 24th minute with Mohd Hadi’s header.
Head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee said his players had failed to find their rhythm in the first 45 minutes of the game.
Still, he he was pleased they managed to overcome their lacklustre first half and do better in the second.
“We have to understand opening matches are not easy. The players have not played as a unit for some time and we were quite lost and faced some difficulty in the first half, but we improved and had more chances than Myanmar in the second half.
Myanmar head coach, Velizar Popov said his boys will not stop playing attacking football in their following games.
Their next one will be a biggie too.
They face the hosts today before the Malaysia-Philippines tie on Friday.
