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Poor day for Malaysia

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 Malaysia’s Mohd Amri Yahyah (right) and Palestine’s Khaled A.K. Mahdi tussle for the ball at the Darulmakmur Stadium yesterday. Pic by Luqman Hakim Zubir

A SUPERB goal in each half earned Palestine a 2-0 win over Malaysia in a charity international match at Darulmakmur Stadium in Kuantan yesterday.

  The match, organised by the Sports Ministry, raised RM910,000 and the proceeds channeled to the "Palestine Fund" and "Lahad Datu Patriot Fund".

   In the absence of several regulars, national coach K. Rajagobal made five changes to his side, who edged Yemen 2-1 in an Asian Cup Qualifying match last week.

   He fielded goalkeeper Farizal Marlias, Faizal Muhammad, Fadhli Shas, K. Reuben, Asraruddin Putra Omar, Safiq Rahim, K. Gurusamy, Azamuddin Akil, K. Gopinathan, Amri Yahyah and Khyril Muhymeen Zambri.

  "I had a good look at some of the players, who did not play against Yemen and it has given me more options for future reference," said Rajagobal yesterday.

   The Malaysians were unimaginative as they hardly played decent passes throughout the match.
    The homesters tested Palestine goalkeeper Tawfiq Abuhammad only once through Amri's long range effort, which was blocked for a corner kick.

    Palestine's Khaled Salem and captain Imad Zatara were the most dangerous players as they constantly made it difficult for the Malaysian back-line, who were outwitted on many occasions.
   Khaled Salem's brilliant volley, off a cross from Imad inside the box, put Palestine ahead in the 40th minute.

   Rajagobal practically replaced his entire line-up in stages in the second half as Young Tigers C goalkeeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi conceded a goal, seconds after replacing Norazlan Razali.

   Ashraf Nu'man Alfawaghra placed his free kick into the top right corner of the goal mouth past Syihan in the final minute but the keeper made amends by blocking a Hussam Saleh penalty kick in stoppage time. By Ajitpal Singh and T.N Alagesh


Read more: Poor day for Malaysia - Soccer - New Straits Times

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