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Apek nafi Jepun berpesta gol


khairul Fahmi Che Mat (kiri) menafikan percubaan dua penyerang Jepun, Yuya Osako (kanan) dan Keigo Higashi pada Kelayakan Olimpik di Tosu, Saga Jepun semalam. – AFP


KUALA LUMPUR - Tewas 0-2 kepada Jepun mungkin bukan satu keputusan yang memalukan.
Namun hakikatnya persembahan hambar skuad Olimpik negara ketika berdepan pasukan No.1 Asia pada aksi pembukaan Kumpulan C Kelayakan Olimpik semalam, memberi gambaran tentang tahap bola sepak kita masih ketinggalan berbanding negara tuan rumah.

Jika bukan kerana ketangkasan penjaga gol yang juga ketua pasukan, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, skuad negara mungkin dibolosi dengan jumlah jaringan yang jauh lebih besar.

Beraksi di hadapan kira-kira 23,000 penyokong Blue Samurai di Stadium Tosu, Fukuoka, Harimau Muda bagaikan kehilangan taring, langsung tidak mengaum.

Sejak awal permainan, barisan pertahanan skuad Ong Kim Swee begitu mudah dilepasi oleh rangkaian serangan Jepun yang diketuai tonggak perancang, Hiroshi Kiyotake.

Serangan yang dilancarkan dari pelbagai sudut, menguji Khairul Fahmi dengan hantaran lintang berbahaya dari kedua-dua belah sayap, serta rembatan dari luar kotak.

Barisan empat pertahanan Malaysia iaitu Mahali Jasuli, Muslim Ahmad, Fadhli Shas dan Zubir Azmi, kerap membiarkan pemain lawan melepasi kawalan mereka.

Menghidu kelemahan Malaysia itu, Jepun akhirnya mendahului selepas 10 minit perlawanan menerusi jaringan Keigo Higashi yang mudah menewaskan Khairul Fahmi di penjuru kiri gawang selepas menerima umpanan Kiyotake.

Jaringan itu menyemarakkan semangat Jepun dengan menggandakan serangan.
Ketika pertahanan skuad negara terus bergelut, mujur ketangkasan Khairul Fahmi atau Apek menjadi penyelamat.

Apek akhirnya dibolosi kali kedua apabila pemain gantian, Ryohei Yamazaki mudah menolak masuk umpanan penyerang Nagoya Grampus, Kensuke Nagai.

Peluang untuk meneruskan harapan ke London 2012 belum tertutup sekiranya dapat bangkit pada perlawanan berikutnya, dengan syarat Kim Swee mengelak aksi hambar semalam.
Malaysia akan menerima kunjungan Syria, 23 November depan.


Oleh TAN MING WAI
tan.mingwai@utusan.com.my

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