Harimau Malaya Narrowly Avoids Embarrassment Against Timor Leste in 2024 Asean Cup

A Battle for Victory

PETALING JAYA: Harimau Malaya narrowly avoided embarrassment against minnows Timor Leste after coming from behind to secure a 3-2 victory in their second match of the 2024 Asean Cup tournament.

A Tough First Half

Despite being heavily favored to dominate Timor-Leste, Harimau Malaya struggled to break through their opponents’ defence in the first half at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

The Opening Goal

Malaysia opened the scoring in the 37th minute when Fergus Tierney unleashed a cross which was finished off by Syafiq Ahmad.

Timor Leste’s Counter-Attack

However, the 7,420 fans in attendance were shocked when Joao Pedro’s blistering pace overwhelmed two Harimau Malaya defenders to set up Olagar Xavier for Timor-Leste’s equaliser in the 46th minute.

Timor Leste Takes the Lead

Pedro continued to torment Malaysia’s defence and put Timor-Leste ahead when his second goal capped off a counter-attack in the 48th minute.

The Turnaround

Malaysia drew level in the 69th minute when playmaker Paulo Josue finished off a lofted pass and unleashed a shot past Timor Leste’s goalkeeper Junildo Pereira after a lofted pass from substitute midfielder Endrick Dos Santos.

The Winning Goal

The 35-year-old Kuala Lumpur (KL) City FC forward remained a constant threat in front of goal and netted his second of the night with a header from a poorly cleared ball by Timor-Leste substitute Luis Figo Ribeiro in the 83rd minute.

Group Standings

In another group match, Singapore defeated Cambodia 2-1 at the National Stadium, Singapore, in their opening match.

Group A Standings

Malaysia now tops Group A with four points, one point ahead of defending champions Thailand and Singapore, who have played one match each. Cambodia are fourth with one point while Timor-Leste are last without any points.

Upcoming Matches

Malaysia will next face Thailand in Bangkok on Saturday while Timor-Leste will take on Singapore.

Previous Match

Harimau Malaya opened their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Cambodia in Phnom Penh last Sunday.

Conclusion

Harimau Malaya’s narrow win against Timor Leste was a much-needed boost for the team, which will face a tough test against Thailand in their next match. The team will need to improve their consistency and defensive solidity to progress further in the tournament.

Frequently Asked Questions

* What was the score in the match between Harimau Malaya and Timor Leste?
+ Harimau Malaya won 3-2.
* Who scored the opening goal for Malaysia?
+ Fergus Tierney scored the opening goal for Malaysia in the 37th minute.
* Who scored the equaliser for Timor Leste?
+ Olagar Xavier scored the equaliser for Timor Leste in the 46th minute.
* Who scored the winning goal for Malaysia?
+ Paulo Josue scored the winning goal for Malaysia in the 83rd minute.