BANGKOK — Malaysia’s path to the semi-finals of the 2024 Asean Championship now rests on a do-or-die clash against Singapore at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on December 20.
Last night’s narrow 1-0 defeat to defending champions Thailand left Malaysia in a precarious position. Even with a win against Singapore, their fate will hinge on favourable results in other Group A matches.
“We still have a chance to advance, but it’s crucial we put in a strong performance against Singapore,” head coach Pau Marti Vicente said during the post-match press conference.
Despite the setback, Vicente praised his players for their resilience against a formidable Thai side.
“We didn’t deserve tonight’s result, but that’s football. We defended and attacked quite well, but a single mistake proved costly,” he said, referring to goalkeeper Muhammad Haziq Nadzli’s misplaced pass that led to Patrik Gustavsson’s decisive 57th-minute goal, Bernama reported.
Vicente refrained from blaming Haziq and emphasised the need for collective support.
“A goalkeeper’s error often leads to a goal, while errors in other positions may go unnoticed. We need to support Haziq so he can focus on the next match.”
Malaysia currently sits third in Group A with four points from three matches, behind Thailand and Singapore, who each have six points from two outings.
The team opened their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Cambodia, followed by a 3-2 win over Timor-Leste before last night’s defeat.
Meanwhile, Thailand head coach Masatada Ishii admitted his team’s attack lacked sharpness despite the victory.
“Tactically, we didn’t play as well as we could. Hopefully, the players will step up in the next game,” he said.
Thailand’s Suphanat Mueanta, who provided the assist for Gustavsson’s goal, was named Man of the Match. — December 15, 2024