Skip to main content

Last-minute heartbreak


NATIONAL coach Dollah Salleh blamed his team’’s lapses of concentration after throwing away the lead twice in the 3-2 defeat to Thailand in a rain-delayed AFF Cup Group B match at Jalan Besar Stadium yesterday.

Substitute Adisak Kraisorn broke the hearts of Malaysia by netting his second goal of the night in the final minute after scoring with his first touch two minutes before half time. Charyl Chappuis scored the other for Thailand in the 73rd minute.

Amri Yahyah (28th) and Safiq Rahim (60th) replied for Malaysia.
““The game plan worked but unfortunately we let in late goals in each half to concede defeat. We did not concentrate enough when it mattered,” said a disappointed Dollah.

“However, I am pleased with the way my players’ performed but unfortunately the result did not favour us. It is heartbreaking to lose a match in the final minute but I believe my players will overcome it.”

However, Dollah is still optimistic his team will beat Singapore, who beat Myanmar 4-2 yesterday. “I hope playing Singapore will give us extra motivation as we need three points from this match.”
Thailand coach Kiatisuk Senamuang described yesterday’’s win as more difficult than the three points collected against Singapore on Sunday.

Khairul Fahmi Che Mat started in goal with the defensive back four comprising Afif Amiruddin, Fadhli Shas, Mahali Jasuli and Zubir Azmi.
The midfield included captain Shukor Adan and Safiq with S. Kunanlan and Amri on the flanks while Norshahrul Idlan Talaha and Safee played in attack.

Malaysia’s exciting moment arrived six minutes later when Amri scored his fourth international goal after directing his grounder past goalkeeper Kawin Thamsatchanan. The 33-year-old ran half-length of the pitch to the touchline to hug Dollah after finishing off Safiq’’s brilliant pass.

But Thailand refused to give up as the three-time champions continued to press for the equaliser and their persistence paid off in the 42nd minute when substitute Adisak scored with his first touch after coming on for Kirati Keawsombut two minutes earlier.

The goal could have been avoided had right-back Mahali Jasuli defended stoutly by stopping Charyl from sending a precise low cross to Adisak.

In the 45th minute, Amri almost scored from inside his own half with a looping attempt catching goalkeeper Kawin, who was well off his goal line but the ball struck the crossbar.

With many tired legs on the pitch, Malaysia did not look like scoring but Dollah’’s side again went ahead through Safiq’’s solo effort in the 60th minute. The 27-year-old ghosted into Thailand’’s box with ease and side-stepped a Thailand defender before directing the ball low into the bottom corner, leaving keeper Kawin rooted to the ground.

However, poor defending led to Thailand’’s equaliser through Charyl in the 73rd minute. The Swiss-born collected a loose ball inside the box before directing his powerful shot past keeper Khairul Fahmi. Then, Adisak took advantage of poor defending to volley home from closing range in the final minute.



By AJITPAL SINGH  - NST

Comments

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...

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,...

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...