Skip to main content

Arsenal Come From Behind To Gun Down Malaysia 2-1

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) -- English Premier League outfit Arsenal FC came from behind to gun down Malaysia 2-1 in an action packed friendly match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, here Tuesday night.

The win was the second on the trot recorded by the English side, dubbed the 'Gunners', after having won 4-0 at the same venue during their Asian Tour last year.

The national side dubbed as 'Harimau Malaya' gave the Gunners an early scare through Mohd Safee Sali's half-volley in the 5th minute but it was well saved by the visitors' goalkeeper Vitor Mannone.

The Gunners increased their tempo and forward Marouane Chamakh almost opened accounts for the English side in the 8th minute but it was pushed out by Mohd Farizal Marlias in the Malaysian goal.

The national side coached by Datuk K. Rajagobal then took the lead in the 46th minute when defender Mohd Azmi Muslim unleashed an unstoppable shot from 25 metres into the top corner, leaving Mannone rooted to his spot.

Startled by the score, Gunners coach Arsene Wenger revamped his whole squad in the second half but the Malaysian defence marshalled by Mohamad Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak and S. Subramaniam stood their ground, preventing every effort from their speedy strikers, especially England striker Theo Walcott.

The Gunners' new signing from Germany, Thomas Eisfeld however, levelled the score in the 87th minute before Chuks Aneke turned hero for the Gunners when he scored in the final minute, sending thousands of local fans who filled the stadium, disappointed.

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) President Sultan Ahmad Shah then presented the medals and trophy to both teams.

The Gunners will wrap up their Asian Tour with another friendly match against Kitchee FC of Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Stadium on Sunday.

-- BERNAMA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ex-coach's jail sentence cut to a year

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal yesterday sentenced former athletics coach C. Ramanathan to 12 months' jail for molesting two junior athletes 19 years ago. A three-man bench led by Datuk Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus unanimously dismissed Ramanathan's appeal against conviction, but varied the jail sentence of four years to a year, which was to run concurrently. Following yesterday's ruling, Ramanathan, 75, a former teacher, walked out a free man as he had served 10 months in Kajang Prison. Convicts get one-third remission for good behaviour while in prison. However, he will lose his pension. Hishamudin, who sat with Datuk Abdul Wahab Patail and Datuk Linton Albert, said the court found no merit to overturn the conviction. "However, in reducing the sentence, we considered Ramanathan's age and the long years the appeal has taken." Deputy public prosecutor Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud submitted that then High Court judge Tan Sri Abdull Hamid E...
2 comments
Read more

Rajagobal Let Off The Hook

PETALING JAYA, April 24 (Bernama) -- National head coach Datuk K. Rajagobal was let off the hook by the Football Association of Malaysia's (FAM) Disciplinary Committee after finding no evidence that he had violated FAM's Article 88, as claimed. FAM Disciplinary Committee chairman Datuk Taufik Abdul Razak said the committee had decided not to charge Rajagobal after carefully analysing the video of the post-match press conference by the 56-year-old coach. "After listening to the recording of the post-match press conference, we decided to drop the charge against Rajagopal as he did not make such a statement. "Maybe his (Rajagobal) assessment and comments of the match was misconstrued by the media. There was no mention of the FAM policy throughout his comments," said Taufik after emerging from a three-hour Disciplinary Committee meeting at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya, here, Wednesday. Rajagobal who does not mince his words when asked to com...
4 comments
Read more

Govt Always Gives Emphasis To Sporting Culture, Says PM

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 29 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badaw i said the government always gives emphasis on cultivating a strong sporting culture in achieving excellence at the international level. As such, the Prime Minister said, it was important to scout for young talents in sports. "I observe that the Malaysia Games (Sukma) has become one of the important platforms to do so. "In this arena, the potentials and skills of the youngsters can be identified for development so that they can achieve greater success in sports," he said in his message in the souvenir book of the 12th Sukma from May 31 until June 9. Abdullah said he was aware that competition in sports was very keen and challenging but this did not mean that Malaysian athletes were incapable of competing at the international level. "The fact is that we have all the characteristics required to be excellent. We must inculcate a strong fighting spirit so that we don't easily surrender,...
1 comment
Read more