Malaysia easily beat Zimbabwe give boost for United match

IT was just the start a young national side needed under a new coach as Malaysia crushed Zimbabwe 4-0 in an international friendly at the KLFA Stadium in Cheras.

National coach K Rajagobal gave four players — goalkeeper Farizal Marlias, Mazlizam Mohamad, Amar Rohidan and S. Kunanlan — their first senior cap.

Using 4-2-3-1 formation, coach K. Rajagobal proved that players from the U-23 squad can play with senior players such as Amri Yahyah, Indraputra and Norhafiz Zamani. Malaysia’s line-up were:

Zakuan

Indraputra Mahayuddin – Md Amri Yahyah – S. Kunanlan

Amar Rohidan – Shafiq Rahim

Asrarudin Putra – Aidil Zafuan – Norhafiz Zamani (C) – Mazlizam Mohamad

Farizal Marlias (GK)

The Zimbabweans were represented by their 2008 Premier League champions Monomotapa United with only two players having played for the full national side previously.

Malaysia deservingly went ahead through Safiq Rahim’s 45th minute penalty after creating nearly all of the goal scoring chances in the first half.

Referee R. Krishnan awarded the penalty when Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, who only came on four minutes earlier for an injured Zaquan Adha Radzak, was brought down in the box by Zimbabwe defender Tendai Semanja.
Amri Yahyah, playing behind the striker, could have helped himself to a hat-trick in a five-minute span before the break with Kunanlan wreaking havoc down the right flank.

Malaysia came out firing against the Zimbabweans early in the second half with Amri, Norshahrul and Safiq Rahim going close before Indra Putra Mahayuddin headed into an open goal from Kunanlan cross in the 50th minute.

Farderin Kadir added the third in the 85th minute before Norshahrul completed the rout two minutes from the end.