Malaysia struggle to beat Nepal in friendly

Late goals by Izzaq Faris Ramlan and Yong Kuong Yong helped Malaysia's Sea Games squad post a face-saving 2-0 win over the visiting Nepal national team in a friendly match at the Petaling Jaya Stadium yesterday.

Although pleased with the win, coach Ong Kim Swee will not have enjoyed the profligacy of the Malaysian forwards in front of goal with Baddrol Bakhtiar and Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim guilty of glaring misses in the first half.

Malaysia created numerous chances against former Tottenham Hotspur defender Graham Roberts' defensive-minded Nepal and it was not until the 80th minute when Izzaq headed in Baddrol's cross did the home team breakthrough before Kuong Yong made it 2-0 in stoppage time with a brilliant individual effort.

"For many of the players, this was their first match since the Olympic qualifier in Japan. I am also without several players who are involved in the Malaysia Cup and three others in Slovakia," said Kim Swee.
 

"We put ourselves under unnecessary pressure after getting too excited in front of goal in the first half but the players improved in the second half despite finding it difficult to play against a team with 10 players behind the ball.

"This game showed us why the players need to know how to break down a defensive team because we could be playing against teams like Laos and Cambodia, who will also be defensive, at the Sea Games."

Gary Steven Robbat gave a commanding display in midfield on his return after being suspended for the 2-0 Olympic qualifying defeat to Japan last month but 17-year-old Nazmi Faiz Mansor struggled to make an impact up front.