BorakBola would like to remain apolitical but would like to ask a few questions:
"Was there anyone from the Malaysian cabinet that came to watch the game yesterday at Bukit Jalil?"
"Was the Minister in charge for sports there?"
We were just wondering how much the leaders really care about football in this country. One leader was quite vocal about the Manchester United trip. Of all the leaders in this country, BorakBola kept hoping for Him to turn up. But we don't think He did or will ever do.
For everyone's info, SBY actually came and supported Indonesia when the Timnas played their hearts out against Saudi Arabia last night. Fancy that.
Sunday, 15 July 2007
Uzbekistan v Malaysia (Asian Cup)
Uzbeks trounce sorry Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR - Maksim Shatskikh scored a brace as Uzbekistan kept alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup 2007 with a 5-0 demolition of Malaysia at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Saturday.
The central Asian side took advantage of sloppy defending by the co-hosts to race into a 3-0 lead by half-time through goals by Shatskikh and Timur Kapadze and a stoppage time penalty by Ulugbek Bakaev.
Server Djeparov rocked the crossbar in the second half before substitute Aziz Ibragimov and Shatskikh added late goals to seal an emphatic victory for the Uzbeks in the Group C clash.
Following contrasting opening defeats, both coaches rung the changes with four alterations apiece.
Shatskikh, who had missed Uzbekistan’s 2-1 defeat against Iran through suspension, replaced Pavel Solomin up front, goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov took over from Pavel Bugalo, Anzur Ismailov replaced Aziz Ibragimov in defence, and Victor Karpenko came in for the injured Aziz Haydarov.
Meanwhile, Malaysia coach Norizan Bakar brought in defenders V.Thirumurugan and K.Nanthakumar, attacking midfielder Mohammed Ivan Yusoff and Indra Putra Mahayuddin for Fauzie Nan, Fadzli Saari, Norhafiz Zamani Misbah and Akmal Rizal Rakhli as the co-hosts looked to bounce back from a 5-1 hammering against China.
However, the Malaysian defensive frailties that had been apparent against China were exposed once again in the 10th minute when the Uzbeks were awarded a free-kick following Rosdi Talib’s foul on Bakaev near the left touchline.
Djeparov swung in the kick which flew just over the head of a leaping Islom Inomov but dropped nicely for an unmarked Shatskikh, who stooped to head the bouncing ball past Azizon Kadir at the far post
Stung by the early setback, the home side came to life and enjoyed a good passage of play highlighted by Shahrulnizam Mustapha’s toe-poke from the edge of the box in the 20th minute which was deflected wide of Ignatiy Nesterov’s right post by an Uzbek defender.
However, Malaysia’s efforts to get back into the game would be completely undermined by another soft goal on the half-hour.
Following a giveaway by the Malaysians in their own half, Karpenko latched on to Timur Kapadze’s pass and surged into the box past half-hearted challenges by Khaironisam Sahabuddin Hussain and K.Nanthakumar before firing a rising shot past a helpless Azizon.
The home side continued to battle and went close to pulling a goal back when Hardi Jaafar’s free kick from 35 metres bounced in front of Nesterov forcing an awkward save from the Uzbek goalkeeper.
Hairuddin Omar also went close when he headed Shahrulnizam’s cross wide from 10 metres.
But any hopes that the hosts had of getting back into the match evaporated just before the half-time whistle when Azizon conceded a penalty for chopping down an advancing Bakaev.
The Uzbek striker picked himself up and confidently stroked the ball past the Malaysian keeper to give his side a three-goal advantage at the break.
Uzbekistan could have made it four early in the second half when Djeparov threaded a pass through to Shatskikh on the left of the Malaysian box, the Dynamo Kiev striker firing across Azizon and just wide of the far post.
Shatskikh then set up Ibragimov with a nice lay-off in the 56th minute but the substitute’s effort was deflected over the crossbar by a Malaysian defender.
Malaysia’s best chance of the half came in the 59th minute following a nice piece of skill by Indra Putra, who received the ball from Nor Farhan Muhammad and flicked the ball with the back of his heel past Hayrulla Karimov before shooting narrowly wide of the Uzbek goal.
Djeparov then rocked the cross bar with a shot from the edge of the box on 67 minutes.
On 79 minutes, Khaironnisam nearly atoned for his earlier defensive lapse as he burst into the box and delivered a dangerous low cross that deflected off Nesterov just past his left upright.
In the 82nd minute, Shatskikh released Alexander Geynrikh with a neat through ball but the substitute fired his effort wide.
But Uzbekistan’s fourth would finally arrive in the 85th minute when Pavel Solomin crossed from the right to an unmarked Ibragimov, who side-footed a volley past Azizon from 15 metres.
Shatskikh then added his second in the 89th minute, finishing from close range after a neat exchange of passes between Djeparov and Kapadze had carved apart the Malaysian defence.
Azizon prevented any further damage by tipping over a Solomin effort in stoppage time but the comprehensive defeat is only likely to add to the pressure on under-fire Malaysia coach Norizan Bakar, whose side are all but eliminated from the tournament.
Taken from AFC Asian Cup website
KUALA LUMPUR - Maksim Shatskikh scored a brace as Uzbekistan kept alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup 2007 with a 5-0 demolition of Malaysia at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Saturday.
The central Asian side took advantage of sloppy defending by the co-hosts to race into a 3-0 lead by half-time through goals by Shatskikh and Timur Kapadze and a stoppage time penalty by Ulugbek Bakaev.
Server Djeparov rocked the crossbar in the second half before substitute Aziz Ibragimov and Shatskikh added late goals to seal an emphatic victory for the Uzbeks in the Group C clash.
Following contrasting opening defeats, both coaches rung the changes with four alterations apiece.
Shatskikh, who had missed Uzbekistan’s 2-1 defeat against Iran through suspension, replaced Pavel Solomin up front, goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov took over from Pavel Bugalo, Anzur Ismailov replaced Aziz Ibragimov in defence, and Victor Karpenko came in for the injured Aziz Haydarov.
Meanwhile, Malaysia coach Norizan Bakar brought in defenders V.Thirumurugan and K.Nanthakumar, attacking midfielder Mohammed Ivan Yusoff and Indra Putra Mahayuddin for Fauzie Nan, Fadzli Saari, Norhafiz Zamani Misbah and Akmal Rizal Rakhli as the co-hosts looked to bounce back from a 5-1 hammering against China.
However, the Malaysian defensive frailties that had been apparent against China were exposed once again in the 10th minute when the Uzbeks were awarded a free-kick following Rosdi Talib’s foul on Bakaev near the left touchline.
Djeparov swung in the kick which flew just over the head of a leaping Islom Inomov but dropped nicely for an unmarked Shatskikh, who stooped to head the bouncing ball past Azizon Kadir at the far post
Stung by the early setback, the home side came to life and enjoyed a good passage of play highlighted by Shahrulnizam Mustapha’s toe-poke from the edge of the box in the 20th minute which was deflected wide of Ignatiy Nesterov’s right post by an Uzbek defender.
However, Malaysia’s efforts to get back into the game would be completely undermined by another soft goal on the half-hour.
Following a giveaway by the Malaysians in their own half, Karpenko latched on to Timur Kapadze’s pass and surged into the box past half-hearted challenges by Khaironisam Sahabuddin Hussain and K.Nanthakumar before firing a rising shot past a helpless Azizon.
The home side continued to battle and went close to pulling a goal back when Hardi Jaafar’s free kick from 35 metres bounced in front of Nesterov forcing an awkward save from the Uzbek goalkeeper.
Hairuddin Omar also went close when he headed Shahrulnizam’s cross wide from 10 metres.
But any hopes that the hosts had of getting back into the match evaporated just before the half-time whistle when Azizon conceded a penalty for chopping down an advancing Bakaev.
The Uzbek striker picked himself up and confidently stroked the ball past the Malaysian keeper to give his side a three-goal advantage at the break.
Uzbekistan could have made it four early in the second half when Djeparov threaded a pass through to Shatskikh on the left of the Malaysian box, the Dynamo Kiev striker firing across Azizon and just wide of the far post.
Shatskikh then set up Ibragimov with a nice lay-off in the 56th minute but the substitute’s effort was deflected over the crossbar by a Malaysian defender.
Malaysia’s best chance of the half came in the 59th minute following a nice piece of skill by Indra Putra, who received the ball from Nor Farhan Muhammad and flicked the ball with the back of his heel past Hayrulla Karimov before shooting narrowly wide of the Uzbek goal.
Djeparov then rocked the cross bar with a shot from the edge of the box on 67 minutes.
On 79 minutes, Khaironnisam nearly atoned for his earlier defensive lapse as he burst into the box and delivered a dangerous low cross that deflected off Nesterov just past his left upright.
In the 82nd minute, Shatskikh released Alexander Geynrikh with a neat through ball but the substitute fired his effort wide.
But Uzbekistan’s fourth would finally arrive in the 85th minute when Pavel Solomin crossed from the right to an unmarked Ibragimov, who side-footed a volley past Azizon from 15 metres.
Shatskikh then added his second in the 89th minute, finishing from close range after a neat exchange of passes between Djeparov and Kapadze had carved apart the Malaysian defence.
Azizon prevented any further damage by tipping over a Solomin effort in stoppage time but the comprehensive defeat is only likely to add to the pressure on under-fire Malaysia coach Norizan Bakar, whose side are all but eliminated from the tournament.
Taken from AFC Asian Cup website
First To Go
Taken from The Star
Tengku Abdullah resigns as FAM deputy president
KUALA LUMPUR: Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has resigned with immediate effect, after Malaysia's humiliating defeats in the Asian Cup Finals.
The national team was whipped 1-5 by China in their opening match on Tuesday and trounced 0-5 by Uzbekistan on Saturday. Both matches were played at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
The heavy defeats have put Malaysia out of the running for a quarter-final berth.
At least he is responsible enough. More on this
Tengku Abdullah resigns as FAM deputy president
KUALA LUMPUR: Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has resigned with immediate effect, after Malaysia's humiliating defeats in the Asian Cup Finals.
The national team was whipped 1-5 by China in their opening match on Tuesday and trounced 0-5 by Uzbekistan on Saturday. Both matches were played at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
The heavy defeats have put Malaysia out of the running for a quarter-final berth.
At least he is responsible enough. More on this
Saturday, 14 July 2007
TONIGHT! UZBEKISTAN v MALAYSIA
Group C will go into its Second Matchday this evening with the Pasukan Kebangsaan playing against another strong Asian team, Uzbekistan. Kick-off will be at a strange time of 6.20pm. Expect to see a lot of changes to the starting line-up for Malaysia and also a decrease in stadium attendance compared to the game on Tuesday.
For the record Malaysia have met Uzbekistan twice before, in 1994 at the Asian Games in Hiroshima (where Malaysia lost 5-0) and in 1999 in a friendly in Samarkand where the host beat Malaysia 3-0.
Uzbekistan
For everyone's recollection, the former Soviet bloc actually won that same Asian Games gold medal in Hiroshima, winning all 7 games. But their foray into the AFC competitions have not been successful eversince. They missed out on qualifying in the 1996 Asian Cup, but managed to join the competition anyway at the last minute due to the disqualification of the Phillipines. Losing two of the three matches, Uzbekistan came out bottom of their group.
Although their qualified for the next Asian Cup in Lebanon, again they came out last in the group. Having drawn their opening game with Qatar 1-1, they were then torn apart by eventual champion Japan, who thumped the Uzbeks 8-1, the second largest margin in Asian Cup history.
They were more competitive in the recent Asian Cup in China, winning all of their group games but losing out to Bahrain on penalties. They lost to Iran 1-2 in the their first group match in this current edition of the Asian Cup, and will be looking for a win to keep their hope of reaching the quarters alive. They team is coached by former Uzbekistan U-23 boss Rauf Inileyev. Inileyev has a talented squad at his disposal with Dynamo Kiev’s Maksim Shatskikh still in his goal-scoring prime while Server Djeparov has taken over much of the creative duties since Kasimov stood down
Players to watch: Maksim Shatskikh - star player from Dynamo Kiev, the Uzbek Svechenko as they call him.
Malaysia
There will changes to the team, with Nantha probably starting from the looks of it, as Norizan took the lanky defender along for his pre-match conference. Norizan will probably stick with Azizon in goal, as the custodian have been given a special counselling session by the goalkeeping coach and will be keen to amend for his nervy performance in the first match.
BorakBola is unsure who between Fauzie and Rosdi will stay, but definitely one of them will go. We are hoping that Kedah's Thiru will be given a chance to show his stuff.
Despite playing badly against China, Kaironnisam would probably still start as he is the captain after all and between him and Norhafiz and the inexperienced Poster Boy Aidil Zafuan, we rather have the captain in the first eleven. Better the devil than the deep blue sea.
BorakBola cannot figure the other two players that will join Hardi and Shukor (Norizan's favourite) in midfield. As we have mentioned before in this blog, Eddy Helmi is good as a replacement player and not a starter, and again Norizan should include him as a subsitute, perhaps earlier in the second half. There's Ivan Yusof as an option to either Fadzli or Shahrulnizam.
Indra should get the nod to lead the line this time, perhaps Norizan can have Akmal and Indra as the strikers, as we are not convinced Hairuddin will find the net in the Asian Cup tournament.
Players to watch: Indra Putra and K Nanthakumar - hoping that the changes will bring results
See you guys tonite!
Taken from The Star
Coach Norizan to ring the changes
By ERIC SAMUEL
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will make major changes to their starting line-up for the match against Uzbekistan at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday.
Coach Norizan Bakar said that it was back to the drawing board to chart their strategies for the remaining two matches in Group C following the heavy 1-5 defeat by China in their opening match on Tuesday.
“We need to make changes and we learnt it the hard way in our opening game,” said a disappointed Norizan of his side, who had difficulties coping with the Chinese onslaught and paid dearly for their poor tactical discipline in defence.
“It was obvious that we did not cut off the crosses well. When the whole defence cracks against a strong attacking side like China, we are in big trouble.”
The defenders who started against China were skipper Mohd Kaironissam Sahabuddin and Norhafiz Zamani Misbah at centreback, leftback Rosdi Talib and rightback Fauzie Nan. And they were a big letdown.
But there was nothing much Malaysia could do against the tactically sound Chinese, who made good use of their physical advantage to cruise to an easy victory.
Knowing that they were up against taller opponents, it was a surprise that Norizan left out the lanky K. Nanthakumar from the starting line-up. In fact, all the goals conceded were off the Chinese aerial raids.
Besides Nanthakumar, who came in at the half hour mark, the other defenders in the team are Mohd Hamzani Omar, Nazrulerwan Makmor, V. Thirumurugan and Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak.
Norizan felt that his team should be able to pick up the pieces for the matches against Uzbekistan and Iran (July 18).
The only consolation for Norizan was the neat set-piece which his men pulled off in the 73rd minute.
It was their best move of the night by the Malaysians with Hardi Jaafar squaring the ball to Hairuddin Omar, who relayed it to Indra Putra Mahayuddin to strike a first-timed shot into goal.
“If only the boys can come up with more of such set- pieces to score goals, we should get better results,” said Norizan.
For the record Malaysia have met Uzbekistan twice before, in 1994 at the Asian Games in Hiroshima (where Malaysia lost 5-0) and in 1999 in a friendly in Samarkand where the host beat Malaysia 3-0.
Uzbekistan
For everyone's recollection, the former Soviet bloc actually won that same Asian Games gold medal in Hiroshima, winning all 7 games. But their foray into the AFC competitions have not been successful eversince. They missed out on qualifying in the 1996 Asian Cup, but managed to join the competition anyway at the last minute due to the disqualification of the Phillipines. Losing two of the three matches, Uzbekistan came out bottom of their group.
Although their qualified for the next Asian Cup in Lebanon, again they came out last in the group. Having drawn their opening game with Qatar 1-1, they were then torn apart by eventual champion Japan, who thumped the Uzbeks 8-1, the second largest margin in Asian Cup history.
They were more competitive in the recent Asian Cup in China, winning all of their group games but losing out to Bahrain on penalties. They lost to Iran 1-2 in the their first group match in this current edition of the Asian Cup, and will be looking for a win to keep their hope of reaching the quarters alive. They team is coached by former Uzbekistan U-23 boss Rauf Inileyev. Inileyev has a talented squad at his disposal with Dynamo Kiev’s Maksim Shatskikh still in his goal-scoring prime while Server Djeparov has taken over much of the creative duties since Kasimov stood down
Players to watch: Maksim Shatskikh - star player from Dynamo Kiev, the Uzbek Svechenko as they call him.
Malaysia
There will changes to the team, with Nantha probably starting from the looks of it, as Norizan took the lanky defender along for his pre-match conference. Norizan will probably stick with Azizon in goal, as the custodian have been given a special counselling session by the goalkeeping coach and will be keen to amend for his nervy performance in the first match.
BorakBola is unsure who between Fauzie and Rosdi will stay, but definitely one of them will go. We are hoping that Kedah's Thiru will be given a chance to show his stuff.
Despite playing badly against China, Kaironnisam would probably still start as he is the captain after all and between him and Norhafiz and the inexperienced Poster Boy Aidil Zafuan, we rather have the captain in the first eleven. Better the devil than the deep blue sea.
BorakBola cannot figure the other two players that will join Hardi and Shukor (Norizan's favourite) in midfield. As we have mentioned before in this blog, Eddy Helmi is good as a replacement player and not a starter, and again Norizan should include him as a subsitute, perhaps earlier in the second half. There's Ivan Yusof as an option to either Fadzli or Shahrulnizam.
Indra should get the nod to lead the line this time, perhaps Norizan can have Akmal and Indra as the strikers, as we are not convinced Hairuddin will find the net in the Asian Cup tournament.
Players to watch: Indra Putra and K Nanthakumar - hoping that the changes will bring results
See you guys tonite!
Taken from The Star
Coach Norizan to ring the changes
By ERIC SAMUEL
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will make major changes to their starting line-up for the match against Uzbekistan at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday.
Coach Norizan Bakar said that it was back to the drawing board to chart their strategies for the remaining two matches in Group C following the heavy 1-5 defeat by China in their opening match on Tuesday.
“We need to make changes and we learnt it the hard way in our opening game,” said a disappointed Norizan of his side, who had difficulties coping with the Chinese onslaught and paid dearly for their poor tactical discipline in defence.
“It was obvious that we did not cut off the crosses well. When the whole defence cracks against a strong attacking side like China, we are in big trouble.”
The defenders who started against China were skipper Mohd Kaironissam Sahabuddin and Norhafiz Zamani Misbah at centreback, leftback Rosdi Talib and rightback Fauzie Nan. And they were a big letdown.
But there was nothing much Malaysia could do against the tactically sound Chinese, who made good use of their physical advantage to cruise to an easy victory.
Knowing that they were up against taller opponents, it was a surprise that Norizan left out the lanky K. Nanthakumar from the starting line-up. In fact, all the goals conceded were off the Chinese aerial raids.
Besides Nanthakumar, who came in at the half hour mark, the other defenders in the team are Mohd Hamzani Omar, Nazrulerwan Makmor, V. Thirumurugan and Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak.
Norizan felt that his team should be able to pick up the pieces for the matches against Uzbekistan and Iran (July 18).
The only consolation for Norizan was the neat set-piece which his men pulled off in the 73rd minute.
It was their best move of the night by the Malaysians with Hardi Jaafar squaring the ball to Hairuddin Omar, who relayed it to Indra Putra Mahayuddin to strike a first-timed shot into goal.
“If only the boys can come up with more of such set- pieces to score goals, we should get better results,” said Norizan.
Friday, 13 July 2007
War Cries Part 2
Akmal Issues Rallying Call
KUALA LUMPUR – Striker Akmal Rizal Rakhli has called on his Malaysia teammates to raise their game on Saturday against Uzbekistan and get a result that would restore faith in Norizan Bakar’s side after their 5-1 defeat to China.
The Selangor forward admits that the mood in the Malaysia camp has been low since their heavy loss to the Chinese in the Group C opener on Tuesday.
“Our team morale is now a bit down but we have to buck up and face our second game and prove to our fans and our country that we are here to fight,” said the 25-year-old.
“If we keep thinking about our 5-1 loss to China, we will find it very difficult to face Uzbekistan and might even lose more heavily against them.
“Whatever happens, we have to face Uzbekistan and we have to prove that we are not the type of team that the Malaysian media described so negatively in the first couple of days after the loss.
“Personally speaking, I want to play and I want to score, but most of all, I want to ensure that we don’t lose our next game.”
Akmal is not expecting an easy ride against an Uzbek side still smarting from a 2-1 defeat to Iran on Wednesday.
“It will be a tough game for us because Uzbekistan are a good team. They play a different style of game which is more individual and in terms of technique, they are better than China.
“Whatever happens, we have to face them and perform at our very, very best to fight them.
“The most important thing is that we must regroup as a team and play as a unit to beat them.”
Taken from AFC Asian Cup Website
KUALA LUMPUR – Striker Akmal Rizal Rakhli has called on his Malaysia teammates to raise their game on Saturday against Uzbekistan and get a result that would restore faith in Norizan Bakar’s side after their 5-1 defeat to China.
The Selangor forward admits that the mood in the Malaysia camp has been low since their heavy loss to the Chinese in the Group C opener on Tuesday.
“Our team morale is now a bit down but we have to buck up and face our second game and prove to our fans and our country that we are here to fight,” said the 25-year-old.
“If we keep thinking about our 5-1 loss to China, we will find it very difficult to face Uzbekistan and might even lose more heavily against them.
“Whatever happens, we have to face Uzbekistan and we have to prove that we are not the type of team that the Malaysian media described so negatively in the first couple of days after the loss.
“Personally speaking, I want to play and I want to score, but most of all, I want to ensure that we don’t lose our next game.”
Akmal is not expecting an easy ride against an Uzbek side still smarting from a 2-1 defeat to Iran on Wednesday.
“It will be a tough game for us because Uzbekistan are a good team. They play a different style of game which is more individual and in terms of technique, they are better than China.
“Whatever happens, we have to face them and perform at our very, very best to fight them.
“The most important thing is that we must regroup as a team and play as a unit to beat them.”
Taken from AFC Asian Cup Website
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