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Football: Malaysia in control

Malaysia’s Wan Zaharul Nizam celebrates after scoring against Pakistan yesterday. — Picture by Osman Adnan
Malaysia’s Wan Zaharul Nizam celebrates after scoring against Pakistan yesterday. — Picture by Osman Adnan
 
MALAYSIA enjoyed a good start to their Olympic Asian Zone Qualifying first round campaign by overcoming 10-man Pakistan 2-0 in the first leg at the Shah Alam Stadium yesterday. It was rather a comical display from the Pakistan side who added spice into the match by resorting to rough play.

Coach Ong Kim Swee had instructed his chargers to go on the offensive from the start for an early goal and he got what he wanted when Wan Zaharul Nizam Wan Zakaria scored in the fourth minute.

The midfielder picked up a loose ball from outside the penalty box following a corner kick clearance and rifled home a shot past Pakistan goalkeeper Yousuf Ejaz Butt.
Malaysia picked up the pace and had several good opportunities to extend their lead through K. Gurusamy's free kick, which hit the crossbar in the 15th minute and also Ahmad Shakir Ali's attempt from an acute angle, which went wide two minutes later.

The match slowly turned into a physical game with Pakistan guilty of rough play on several occasions.

In the 45th minute, striker Ansar Abbas was flashed a red card by Hong Kong referee Liu Kwok Man for kicking Malaysia goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, after he had caught an aerial ball.

Right after the incident, midfielder Irfan Fazail extended Malaysia's lead. He picked up a loose ball following a poor clearance from a Pakistan defender before firing home from outside the penalty box.

Pakistan coach Tariq Lutfi, in desperation, replaced his keeper Yousuf with Muhammad Umer in the second half in hope to keep the score down against an inspired Malaysian side.

Muhammad turned out to be a huge stumbling block for the homesters as he made several splendid saves, including denying striker Ahmad Fakri Saraani on three occasions.

The keeper first denied Ahmad Fakri with a splendid finger tip safe in the 58th minute before blocking two shots from inside the box in the 60th and 66th minutes.

Realising that the Malaysian game was getting stale, Kim Swee substituted Ahmad Shakir, Wan Zaharul Nizam and Fandi Othman with S. Sivanesan, Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor and Ferris Danial to add more depth and creativity.

Malaysia continued to press hard but could not increase their lead against Pakistan, who played the entire second half with 10 players.

The return leg is on March 9.

Read more: NST

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