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Pintu Sukan Olimpik sudah hampir tertutup

REAKSI berbeza ditunjukkan barisan pemain Harimau Muda dan Bahrain sejurus tamat aksi kelayakan Olimpik 2012 di Stadium Nasional, Bukit Jalil malam kelmarin.


ATAS kertas, impian Harimau Muda untuk menjejakkan kaki ke bumi London tahun depan tampak tidak ubah daripada sekadar mimpi indah.

Sebaik tewas 2-3 kepada Bahrain pada saingan Kumpulan C kelayakan Sukan Olimpik 2012 Zon Asia di Stadium Nasional, Bukit Jalil malam kelmarin, pintu slot saingan playoff kini dilihat semakin tertutup rapat buat skuad kendalian Ong Kim Swee itu.

Ia merupakan kekalahan ketiga berturut-turut di alami skuad Olimpik negara selepas mereka terlebih dahulu tewas 0-2 kepada Jepun dan Syria.

Rentetan kekalahan di pentas kelayakan Olimpik seolah-olah mengajar anak-anak buah Kim Swee mengenai erti sebenar bola sepak meskipun mereka memegang reputasi selaku jaguh Asia Tenggara sebaik mempertahankan pingat emas Sukan SEA baru-baru ini.

Mahu atau tidak, Harimau Muda perlu menebus semula maruah yang tercalar dalam baki tiga perlawanan akan datang apabila membuat perhitungan dengan Bahrain pada 5 Februari 2012 dan Syria (14 Mac) di gelanggang lawan, selain melayan kunjungan Jepun pada 22 Februari tahun depan.

Tanpa sebarang alasan, anak-anak buah Kim Swee mengharapkan keajaiban membenam Bahrain dan Syria, selain mampu melakar kejutan ke atas Jepun jika tidak mahu kempunan beraksi di London.

Pada perlawanan yang disaksikan hampir 40,000 penyokong sendiri kelmarin, kegagalan Harimau Muda mempertahankan kelebihan dua gol sebelum Bahrain yang beraksi dengan 10 pemain memperoleh tiga gol pada penghujung perlawanan, sememangnya sukar diterima akal.

"Hanya dalam tempoh kira-kira lima minit, segala-galanya berubah. Saya sendiri tidak tahu hendak cakap apa lagi," katanya kecewa selepas perlawanan kelmarin.

Meskipun mendahului menerusi ledakan cantik arkitek muda negara, Nazmi Faiz Mansor pada minit ke-30 disusuli jaringan Mahali Jasuli (66), Harimau Muda akhirnya terjerat dengan ledakan tiga gol lewat pasukan pelawat menerusi pemain gantian, Saad Salah Al-Amer dan Isa Ahmed Muthanna.

Apa yang pasti, ketiadaan Nazmi Faiz dan Mohd. Affize Faisal Mamat yang terpaksa dikeluarkan gara-gara kekejangan otot dan kecederaan pada pertengahan babak kedua juga dilihat bermulanya cetusan 'malapetaka' Harimau Muda yang gagal mengekang amukan jentera serangan Bahrain.

"Ini sahaja pemain yang kita ada. Selain terpaksa meletakkan penyerang, Ferris Danial Mat Nasir di bahagian tengah selepas Nazmi Faiz terpaksa dikeluarkan, Irfan (Fazail) juga terhincut-hincut menanggung kesakitan memandangkan tiada lagi pertukaran yang boleh dilakukan.

"Saya harap keputusan ini dapat memberikan iktibar dan pengajaran berguna buat kami selepas ini," katanya.
Dengan tiga kekalahan yang dialami, Harimau Muda terus terperosok di tangga tercorot Kumpulan C, manakala Jepun unggul di persada dengan mengumpul sembilan mata maksimum.

Syria pula berada di tangga kedua dengan enam mata, sementara Bahrain menghuni tangga ketiga apabila mengutip tiga mata.


KOSMO

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