June 08, 2005 23:29 PM
Malaysia Lose
Again To Singapore
PENANG, June 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysia failed to avenge their recent
defeat to Singapore when they lost 2-1 to their southern neighbours
for a second time in four days in a friendly football match at the
City Stadium here Wednesday night.
The national team, under the guidance of Hungarian coach Bertalan
Bicskei, failed to play well from the opening whistle as they gave
room for Singapore to tame them again.
The weakness in defence could not be rectified as Singapore had no
difficulty to break through and score the opening goal in the 18th
minute.
Singapore striker Noh Alam Shah, who scored both goals in the
republic's 2-0 victory in Singapore last Saturday, took the chance
well to penalise a mistake by Malaysian goalkeeper Azizon Kadir,
who played in place of first-choice Syamsuri Mustafa, who was
injured.
Malaysia then had the chance to level the score when they were
awarded a penalty in the 24th minute after Singapore defender
Baihakki Khaizan brought down striker Nizaruddin Yusoff in the
box.
Nizaruddin, who stepped up to take the penalty himself, failed to
beat Singapore goalkeeper Lionel Lewis but midfielder Arsyah Ayob
scored his first international goal when he slotted in the
rebound.
Singapore dominated the proceedings in the second half and got
their winning goal in the 66th minute through defender Daniel
Bennett off a stunning indirect freekick from outside the penalty
box.
The match was marred in the closing minutes when Bicskei lost his
cool after seeing his charge Zainuddin Ariffin allegedly bullied by
Singapore defender Razaleigh Khalik.
He ran into the field and pulled Razaleigh to the sideline.
However, referee Jimmy Napitupulu of Indonesia acted swiftly to
calm the situation and ordered Bicskei to leave the pitch after
giving the Hungarian a warning.
Met by reporters after the match, Bicskei said Malaysia had no luck
against Singapore which adopted a very aggressive and robust
approach.
"Singapore had all the luck to score goals...Malaysia had about
seven chances to score but we were just unlucky although I think
everyone wanted to give the best for Malaysia," he said.
Singapore skipper Aide Iskandar Sahak said overall the Singapore
team played well but he praised the Malaysian team for their
improved showing.
"We have done our best and we believe Malaysia did, too," he
said.
Teams:
MALAYSIA: Azizon Kadir, Kaironnisam Sahabudin Hussain, Wan Rohaimi
Wan Ismail, Ronny Harun (Rezal Zambery Yahya), Lim Chan Yew, Idris
Karim, Arsyah Ayob, Tengku Hazman Raja Hassan, Nizaruddin Yusoff
(Efendi Malek), Hairuddin Omar, Zainuddin Ariffin (Rudie
Ramli).
SINGAPORE: Lionel Lewis, S. Subramani (Razif Mahamud), Daniel
Bennett, Baihakki Khaizan, Aide Iskandar Sahak, Hasrin Jailani
(Tengku Mushadad), Aidil Sharin Sahak, Ishak Zainol, Indra Sahdan
Daud, Noh Alam Shah (Razaleigh Khalik), Itimi Dickson (Goh Tat
Chuan).
Referee: Jimmy Napitupulu (Indonesia).
-- BERNAMA
(source: Bernama Online)