Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Slow Starters Build Momentum
Malaysia's ASEAN Football Federation Cup got off to a bloody awful start when a much changed team crumbled 5-1 in a hostile Bung Karno to hosts Indonesia.
Things have improved since then however, starting with a somewhat fortuitous 0-0 against Thailand where they defended stoutly enough but offered little up front. In their final group game they thumped Loa 5-1 to assure themselves a semi final spot.
Tonight they host champions Vietnam at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in KL hoping to build up a big ennough lead to take with them to Hanoi for the second leg on Saturday.
Like Malaysia the champions have started the campaign slowly and only reached the semis by virtue of a narrow 1-0 victory over three times champions Singapore.
With the 2009 SEA Games title winning squad making up the bulk of the AFF Cup the Malaysians will be looking to build on last year's triumph in Lao. And given the standard of young players being developed in Malaysia what's to say they aren't ready to dominate South East Asia for years to come.
First though there is the tiny matter of getting past Vietnam over two legs.
# posted by Me @ 2:54 PM 
