KUALA LUMPUR: National team head coach Pau Marti Vicente expressed satisfaction with the performance, though he was disappointed with the result after Harimau Malaya drew 1-1 with India in a Tier 1 international friendly at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad last night.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Vicente acknowledged that the challenges faced during the match served as a crucial test for his squad ahead of next month’s 2024 ASEAN Championship. “I think the game was quite tight. In the first half, we struggled a bit to find our way of playing but we improved a bit in the second half. Overall, I think the result is quite fair but, maybe, we missed a few chances at the end. I think we are a bit disappointed about that but we are happy with the game,” he remarked in a post-match press conference.
The Harimau Malaya squad, amidst controversy over the release of three Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) players before the clash, initially took the lead in the 19th minute. Naturalised striker Paulo Josue capitalised
on a mistake by Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to score. However, India, under the guidance of Spaniard Manolo Marquez, equalised in the 38th minute when Rahul Bheke headed in a corner kick taken by Brandon Fernandes.
The outcome allowed Malaysia to successfully prevent The Blue Tigers from avenging their 2-4 loss in the Merdeka Tournament in 2023. Vicente made significant adjustments to his team, with seven changes from the squad that defeated Laos 3-1 in another Tier 1 international friendly in Bangkok. This match wrapped up their preparation for the ASEAN Championship.
As Malaysia, the 2010 champions, prepare for their campaign in Group A of the ASEAN Championship, they will face Cambodia in Phnom Penh on Dec 8, followed by matches against Timor Leste at home on Dec 11, defending champions Thailand in Bangkok on Dec 14, and Singapore at home on Dec 20.
Addressing the topic of naturalised players, Vicente downplayed any controversy and highlighted the evolving landscape of international football
. He remarked, “Nowadays, every national team has a mix of players of different origins. It’s becoming common. In this case, in Malaysia, the regulations state that after five years of living there, you can become a Malaysian by right. These players have been there a long time, and they have the right to represent the country. This is the reality in football today. People move, change countries and this will become even more common in almost all the national teams,” said the 41-year-old Spaniard.