SEA GAMES: Undetered By Home Crowd, Malaysia Beat Cambodia 4-1

JAKARTA, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysia were undeterred by jeers and taunts from the home crowd as they trounced Cambodia 4-1 in a SEA Games encounter at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium here today.

Despite being tormented by the home crowd, who tried to put them of their rhythm, the national under 23 team led 3-0 at half time through Izzaq Faris Ramlan in the 23rd minute and Baddrol Bakhtiar (35th and 39th minutes).

With the victory, Malaysia needed only a draw against Indonesia in their last Group A match on Thursday to qualify for the semi-finals to enable them to defend the title they won at the Vientiane SEA Games.

Izzaq Faris Ramlan opened scoring with a header sent by Yong Kuong Yong from outside the penalty box before Baddrol Bakhtiar's stinging shot from 35 metres out rebounded into the net, much to the bewilderment of Cambodian goalkeeper Sou Taty.

Baddrol converted the third goal from the penalty spot after Izzaq Faris was roughed up by Cambodia's Lay Raksmey. Cambodia came back into the game in the second half when they reduced the deficit through Chhin Chhoeun in the 59 minute in a counter attack due a fallout in Malaysia's defence.

As the match was heading for the final whistle, Wan Zaharulnizam Wan Zakaria scored the fourth goal in the dying minutes of the match.

Players:

MALAYSIA: Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Mahali Jasuli (Mohamad Fandi Othman), Mohd Fadhli Mohd Shas, Mohamad Muslim Ahmad, Mohd Asraruddin Putra Omar, Mohd Irfan Fazail, Yong Kuong Yong (Ahmad Fakhri Saarani), Muhd Nazmi Faiz Mansor, Baddrol Bakhtiar, Wan Zaharulnizam Wan Zakaria, Izzaq Faris Ramlan (A. Thamil Arasu).

CAMBODIA: Sou Taty, Lay Raksmey, Sok Rithy, Sok Sovan, Pheak Radhy, Touch Pancharong (Sok Pheng), Chhun Sothearath, Phourng Soksana, Khuon Laboravy, Chhin Chhoeun, Sos Suhana (Tun Saray).

-- BERNAMA