KUALA LUMPUR — The Harimau Malaya squad delivered a sweet victory in celebration of Malaysia’s 67th Independence Day, clinching the Merdeka Tournament title with a 1-0 win over Lebanon at Bukit Jalil National Stadium today.
Coach Pau Marti Vicente made several changes to the lineup from the starting eleven against the Philippines last Wednesday, opting for a 3-4-3 formation.
Syafiq Ahmad and Endrick Dos Santos spearheaded the attack, while Dominic Tan partnered with Dion Cools in defence.
Harimau Malaya dominated the early stages of the game, controlling possession for the first 10 minutes, though the momentum soon waned.
In the 33rd minute, a long throw-in from Corbin Ong caused chaos in Lebanon’s penalty box, allowing Romel Morales to slot home the game’s only goal.
That goal reignited the lively atmosphere at the stadium, which was packed with more than 10,000 spectators, despite the match being boycotted by Ultras Malaya.
In the second half, Pau Marti introduced Akhyar Rasid and Arif Aiman to bolster the flanks.
However, the Malaysian camp faced a scare when Dominic Tan had to be stretchered off, with Feroz Baharuddin stepping in as his replacement.
The game turned tense when Lebanon’s Khalil Khamis was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for fouling Arif Aiman, sparking heated exchanges on the sidelines.
Shortly after, Feroz was involved in a verbal spat with Rabih Ataya.
Despite the drama, Pau Marti’s remained composed, holding firm until the final whistle.
Morales’ solitary goal was enough to secure Malaysia’s 13th Merdeka Tournament title, their first since 2013. — September 8, 2024