SINGAPORE: A listless Malaysia beat hapless Brunei 2-0 in their SEA Games penultimate Group B match at the Bishan Stadium.
The national team could only find the breakthrough after the 70th minute with goals from substitute winger Mohd Nurridzuan Abu Hassan’s freekick (70th) and centreback Adam Nor Azlin’s strike (76th).
Team coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee opted to start his younger players and the inexperience showed throughout the error-laden match.
Both teams, who are already out of the semi-finals, struggled to score as they lacked conviction going forward.
And that kind of insipid performance was not lost on coach Ong Kim Swee.
"It should have been an easy game but the players didn't take their chances in the match," said Kim Swee in the post match press conference.
"There was no desire from the players. I told them to not take Brunei for granted but they did the opposite... we could have dropped points from this match.
"We might suffer a different fate if we play the same way against Laos in our last match," he warned.
With the win, Malaysia are third in the group with six points after four matches. They won their opening match 1-0 against Timor Leste last Saturday.
Thailand and Vietnam have sealed their spot in the semi-finals after collecting nine points.
Malaysia will wrap up their SEA Games campaign against second from bottom Laos at the Bishan Stadium on Thursday.
The Star Online
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