![[UPDATED] 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers: M’sia down Turkmenistan 3-1 in opener](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/_large/20220608-kul-_Malaysia_v_Turkmenistan_bukit_jalil_asian_cup_qualifier-_ABDUL_RAZAK_LATIF_48.JPG)
KUALA LUMPUR – The national football team kicked off their 2023 Asian Cup qualifying campaign in style after defeating Turkmenistan 3-1 in their first group match here at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium today.
Harimau Malaya opened the scoring within 10 minutes of kick-off when forward Muhammad Safawi Rasid scored from a rebound.
It did not take long for Kim Pan-gon’s men to double their lead as Muhammad Faisal Halim then netted in the 15th minute.
However, Turkmenistan struck back in the 37th minute after Dion Cools’ poor attempt to clear the ball gave Annadurdyyev Altymyrat an easy tap-in to reduce the deficit.
Just before the referee blew for the end of the first half, defender Corbin Ong restored the two-goal lead as he ran clear from the defensive line to slot past the Turkmenistan goalkeeper.
The second half saw less goalmouth action as Malaysia turned to defence and made it impossible for Turkmenistan to reduce arrears.
In the final minutes, Turkmenistan’s Bashimov Abdy’s tackle on Mohamadou Sumareh landed him a red card, meaning that he would miss the next match.
In his post-match comments, Pan-gon said he was proud of how his men performed in the game.
“This is one of the best nights for us, we did a great job, and the players gave us everything we asked from them and more.
“We dominated the game, this showed us that our planning and training paid off. I can see the players hunger for the win, they were like real tigers out there,” he said.
Mohamad Faisal Halim, scorer of Harimau Malaya’s second goal, said he was elated to net his first international goal.
“Even though I am happy to score my first international goal, it is not for me alone to carry, this is the effort of everyone in the team and for all Malaysians.
“I didn’t expect that we could score so early and control the game, but it goes to show that our training and preparations worked and gave us the advantage we needed for this win,” said the 24-year-old.
Malaysia will play Bahrain next on Saturday, followed by Bangladesh on June 14.
In today’s earlier match, Bahrain claimed their first win after beating Bangladesh 2-0. Midfielder Ali Abdula Haram found the net in the 34th minute, followed by a second goal in the 42nd minute by Komail Hasan Alaswad. – The Vibes, June 8, 2022
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