MALAYSIA LOST IN KUANTAN LOST, KUANTAN, MALAYSIA

叉燒

MALAYSIA LOST IN KUANTAN 18th February, 2004 – The Malaysian national team stumbled in their first game of the World Cup qualifiers when they conceded a 1-3 defeat to Hong Kong here tonight at the Stadium Darulmakmur. As early as the 16th minute, the visitors got their first goal off an opportunistic header from Ng Wai Chiu before Rosdi Talib nailed the equaliser from the spot in the 38th minute. But Hong Kong got their revenge when Chiu Siu Kei nailed the second goal in the 85th minute before Cheung Sai Ho rifled in the third in injury time to deny Malaysia even a point at home. In front of more than 15,000 crowds in Kuantan, the Malaysian lads did not pause for time as they went into the thick of the action from the word go. But as they failed to make their superior possession count – with two misses from Hairuddin Omar - it was Hong Kong who took the lead when Wai Chu make full use of Malaysian keeper Mohd Hamsani Ahmad’s failure for a clean save. WIncreasingly under pressure, Malaysia threw everything they had into the attack and Mohd Nizaruddin Yusof earned a penalty when he was brought down inside the box by Hong Kong captain Lee Wai Man. And Rosdi certainly was confident as he blasted the ball into the net with his left foot. The break saw Malaysia bringing in V. Saravanan for Liew Kit Kong and just ten minutes into the match, the Perak lad provided a touch of brilliance with a freekick which had Chun Yip scrambling to punch it out. Then it was Nizaruddin’s turn to hassle the Hong Kong backline but his efforts was again denied by Chun Yip, who seems to have an excellent night in between the post. But just like it was in the first half, their failure to turn possession into goal once again saw Malaysia stumbling when Chu Siu Kei connected with a low cross for the lead before Sai Ho ended the night with a fine stinger for the winner. MALAYSIA Mohd Hamsani Ahmad, Faizal Zainal, Syamsul Saad, Yuzaiman Zahari, Eddy Helmi Manan, Liew Kit Kong (V. Saravanan), K. Nanthakumar, Muhammad Khaironnisam Shahabuddin (Tengku Hazman Raja Hassan), Rosdi Talib, Hairuddin Omar, Mohd Nizaruddin Yusof. HONG KONG Fan Chun Yip, Ng Wai Chiu, Man Pei Tak, Lee Wai Man, Chan Wai Ho, Luk Koon Pong, Lau Chi Keung, Law Chun Bong (Cheung Sai Ho), Sham Kwok Keung (Kwok Yue Hung), Lawrence Akandu (Chan Ho Man), Chu Siu Kei. Ends