MATCH REPORT: Malaysia v Cambodia (Test Match) 18 June

Full Time Result:
Malaysia 6 - Cambodia 0

Venue:
Shah Alam Stadium

Goals:
Rosdi Talib (14th)
Ivan Yusof (47th)
Hairuddin Omar (61st)
Eddie Helmi (81st, 88th)
Aidil Zafuan (90th)

Players Used:
Azizon Abdul Kadir (Mohd Suffian Abdul Rahman, 74th), Mohd Hamzani Omar (Mohd Fauzie Nan, 62nd) K. Nanthakumar, Muhammad Khaironnisam Shahabuddin, Rosdi Talib, Shahrulnizam Mustapa (Eddy Helmi Manan, 60th), Norhafiz Zamani Misbah (Muhamad Aidil Zafuan, 58th), Rezal Zambery Yahya (Mohd Ivan Yusoff, 32nd), Muhammad Hardi Jaafar, Indra Putra Mahayuddin (Mohd Nor Farhan Mohamad, 55th), Hairuddin Omar (Nazrulerwan Makmor, 78th)

Taken from www.the-afc.com:
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia preparations for next month's AFC Asian Cup 2007™ received a boost when the thrashed Cambodia 6-0 in a friendly here on Monday. The home side will go up against the United Arab Emirates on Thursday and Jamaica on June 28 before beginning their AFC Asian Cup 2007™ campaign against last edition’s runners-up China on July 10.

Former captain Rosdi Talib celebrated his return to the team after a three-year absence by opening the scoring in the 23rd minute with a 30-yard strike. The home side missed several chances to increase their advantage and had to wait until soon after the break for their second goal, with Mohd Ivan Yusoff scoring from close range.

Hairuddin Omar made it 3-0 in the 58th minute before Eddy Helmi added two more. Aidil Zafuan finished off the Cambodians with a goal in the final seconds.

Malaysia coach Norizan Bakar said: “It is important that we get off on the right note in the first game of the final phase - now we have to be better in the second match (against UAE).”

Taken from www.fam.org.my:
The Malaysian national team started their final phase of preparation for the Asian Cup 2007 on a confident note when they blasted Cambodia 6-0 at the Stadium Shah Alam tonight. But the game which was used to test the mechanics for Kuala Lumpur’s readiness to host the Asian Cup 2007 next month, could have seen the Malaysian side walking away with a bigger scoreline had they been sharper with the chances they had.

And although they could take solace that the team under head coach Norizan Bakar showed glimpses of confidence to break through the Cambodian defence, still the Asian Cup will be a different ball game. “The positive thing was obviously the results,” said head coach Norizan Bakar after the match.

“It is important that we get off on the right note in the first game of the final phase – now we have be better in the second match (against United Arab Emirates in three days).”

Following the naming of the ‘strongest possible squad’ on the weekend, the pressure is there for the Malaysian team to inject more character going into the final phase following their turbulent trip to Australia last month. It would seem however that there were lessons which Norizan had picked up from Down Under especially with the naming of his backline to include K. Nanthakumar to partner captain Muhammad Khaironnisam Shahabuddin.

With forwards Hairuddin Omar and Indra Putra Mahayuddin not able to make much of the chances created in the opening half, it was left to leftback Rosdi Talib to celebrate his return to the national side with a spectacular 30metre drive for the first goal in the 23rd minute. The changes for the ineffective Indra and Rezal Zambery Yahya gave Malaysia more pace at the centre of the park and shortly after coming on, Mohd Ivan Yusoff blasted in from close range two minutes after the restart to put Malaysia in a comfortable position.

Several misses on a trot later failed to blot Malaysia’s win in front of a sporadic crowd as Hairuddin (58th), Eddy Helmi Manan (61st and 88th) and Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak (90th) all make the score sheet for the final scoreline.