The Malaysia Experiment - Consolation Prize

"A penalty is a cowardly way to score." - Pele

Here we are, ready to fight for third place against Uzbekistan (44th). The stakes aren't as high as the last match. Who celebrates coming in at number 3 anyway?

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This match, I got my assistant Tan Cheng Hoe to pick the team. He included Hafiz Azman (AMC) as well as Shakir Roslan (DC). The most interesting selection was Yusof Hashim (16 years old) instead of Saddam El-Hafedz Shahri (23 years old) in goal.

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All it took was 3 minutes for them to break the deadlock. Ruslan Jamalov (MR) sent in a cross for Pavel Puryshkin (ST) to head towards goal. Hashim made a weak save and the Pruyshkin was quickest to react to the rebound. He couldn't miss this time and we were down 0-1.

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In my heart, I was fearful that this match might turn really ugly for us. If we were to play catch up the whole match, we might be exposed at the back and vulnerable to the counter-attack. We gradually grew into the game, and in the 10th minute, our attacking quartet managed some good link-up play. It freed Luqman Hussain on the left and he only had Jaxongi Niyozov (GK) to beat! Goal! 1-1!

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Halftime came and we were still on level terms. My worst performer was Muhd Syazwan Ismawi (LB) that was playing out of position, on the right of defense. I told the boys to keep it up, despite their tired legs.

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There was a nervy moment in injury time when we failed to clear a corner and there were actually more Uzbek attackers than Malaysian defenders in the 6-yard box! Boburjon Akbarov (DC) headed the ball to Puryshkin but it was a bit too high for him to control. His volley ended up in the stands. We breathed a sigh of relief.

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We managed to keep the score at 1-1 and we're headed to the dreadful extra time. Our boys are seriously worn out as I got the physios to give them some leg massages. There were just too many legs and not enough hands so not everyone got one. :(

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I guess the White and Blue was not about to leave it to the luck of the penalties. They attacked us relentlessly. It was their lucky day when the linesman didn't call an offside for Puryshkin when Sirojiddin Raxmatullaev (a familiar name among Malaysian fans as he's played for ATM in 2016-2017) crossed it in. Mohd Zulkifli Mazlan mistimed the offside trap and ultimately paid the price. Roslan tried to cover while Hashim, due to his inexperienced, came out for the ball as well. Among the confusion, Puryshkin jumped up and headed the ball in. 2-1 and we've got no choice but to go on the attack.

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In the 103rd minute, when Uzbekistan was still controlling the match, after an interception from Nor Azli Abdul Ghani (LB), the ball eventually fell to Hussain. He spotted that Jamaludin was already starting his run, so he kicked it into space for Jamaludin to chase after. The whole Uzbekistan team was chasing him down and he had to fire his shot from 16 yards before the other defenders close him down. His powerful shot beat the goalkeeper and we scored against the run of play! We came back to draw for the second time in this match!

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At the end of extra-time first half, we were really fortunate to still draw, even after Puryshkin scored in extra time. Just take a look at the match stats! 24 shots to 8 shots, 10 on target to 3 on target, 56% possession to 44% possession. The score wasn't a fair reflection on Uzbekistan but it's not that I mind.

We managed to hold down the fort and the referee whistled for the end of 120 minutes of playing time. Penalties here we come! I've still not forgotten it wasn't too long ago that we emerged victorious from a penalty shootout. I've got high hopes for this one as well. If you told me it would come to this at the start of the match, I'd gladly take it with both hands. I sent in my list of penalty takers and we're ready to go!

Malaysia 0 - 1 Uzbekistan
Sarvar Jumaboev starts things off with a perfectly taken penalty.

Malaysia 0 - 1 Uzbekistan
Lee Jinxiang tries a shot down the center but Niyozov stood firm to deny him.

Malaysia 0 - 2 Uzbekistan
Vitaly Denisov then blasts one into the top right corner with his left foot.

Malaysia 0 - 2 Uzbekistan
Next up is Jamaludin. He kicks it to the left but it was a tame effort and Niyozov could react in time and palm it out.

Malaysia 0 - 3 Uzbekistan
Odil Ahmedov delivers another penalty with such pace and power. I'm beginning to wonder if they've practiced their penalties.

Malaysia 1 - 3 Uzbekistan
Mazlan needs to score this to keep us in the game, and he does! A glimmer of hope. Now that we've begun to get our shots in, let's hope to keep theirs out.

Malaysia 1 - 4 Uzbekistan
Hashim stands in goal as Xoshimbek Raximzoda walks up to take the penalty. He fires it past our goalkeeper and he barely had time to react. The players are running around the pitch. They have won 3rd place!

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In the final, South Korea (37th) beat Japan (61st). I personally think that our boys are really heroes, to have reached the semifinal, beating the likes of Iran (58th) and the host, United Arab Emirates (96th). Now I'm off to a well-deserved break!

If you enjoyed this entry, do check out my previous posts
from where it all started, right up to now.