World University Games : Malaysia go down to Brazil

Malaysia put up a good fight but were defeated 2-1 by Brazil in the Group B match of the World University Games football competition at the Shenzhen Bao An Xixiang Stadium yesterday.

Malaysia started the match positively, earning themselves a free kick in a dangerous position but Muhammad Nursalam Zainal Abidin hit wide in the fourth minute.

Two minutes later, a goalmouth melee almost saw Mohd Nasril Izzat Jalil put the national team ahead if not for the quick reflexes of Brazil goalkeeper Carlos Nunes.

The trend was however not to last for long as Brazil soon settled down into their flowing short passing game which kept the Malaysians frustrated and allowed striker Jefersom Beger to test Malaysia keeper Norhadi Ubaidillah from close range in the 11th minute but was tipped wide by the latter.

Brazil made the breakthrough in the 19th minute through an individual effort by Berger who slid the ball past Norhadi from close range to give his side the lead, going into the break.

The second half played out to the same tune with Brazil having the majority of possession and had numerous shots saved by an on-form Norhadi.

Brazil took advantage of an increasingly pressured Malaysian side in search of an equaliser by scoring on the counter-attack, again through Berger in the 69th minute.

Malaysia's constant pressure yielded dividends in the 88th minute when substitute Muhammad Afham Zulkipeli was felled in the penalty box.

Midfielder Bunyamin Umar calmly stepped up to the spot to convert but the goal was not enough to stop the team from losing the match 2-1.

The loss to Brazil, after a defeat by Ukraine in their first match, had put Malaysia out of the running for the quarterfinals. The team will face Russia in their last group match tomorrow.