Malaysia Secures 2-0 Win Over Nepal in Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers
Malaysia’s national football team, Harimau Malaya, secured a convincing 2-0 win over Nepal in their Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Group F opener at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Malaysia, on March 25.
Solid Performance by Harimau Malaya Players
National head coach Peter Cklamovski praised his players for their solid performance, saying that despite limited time to prepare, they managed to translate their training sessions into a strong team performance on the pitch. "Good performance, I’m proud of the players, they gave everything and it (was all) connected to everything we did in training. It wasn’t such a long training camp but the players gave everything physically the whole week, (were) very focused mentally as well the whole week and it led to a really strong team performance tonight," he said at the post-match press conference.
Room for Improvement Ahead
Cklamovski acknowledged that there is still room for improvement ahead of their upcoming matches. "There were many good chances. On another night, perhaps we could have scored more goals. The good thing is that we created many chances and scored two goals, have a clean sheet and take home all three points. We know we still have more work to do and we know we have a lot of potential as well. So, we have to work hard every day to keep improving," he added.
Nepal Head Coach Accepts Defeat
Nepal head coach Matt Ross accepted the fact that his team lost to a superior opponent and that the gap in quality between Malaysia and his team was evident in the match. "We knew we were up against a tough opponent, and unfortunately, we couldn’t bridge the gap. We’ll take this as a learning experience and work on our weaknesses to come back stronger in the next matches," he said.
Match Highlights
New heritage player Hector Hevel put Malaysia ahead in the 29th minute, while defender Corbin Ong doubled the lead in the 71st minute to seal victory.
Group Standings
Vietnam made a strong start to their campaign with a resounding 5-0 win over Laos at the Binh Duong Stadium, topping the group standings with three points, level with Malaysia in second place.
Upcoming Matches
Malaysia will next host Vietnam on June 10 before travelling to Laos on October 9.
Conclusion
Malaysia’s victory over Nepal marked a successful start to their Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers campaign, with the team showing promise and potential. The team will need to work hard to improve and maintain their form in the upcoming matches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the score in the match between Malaysia and Nepal?
A: Malaysia won 2-0.
Q: How many points did Malaysia and Vietnam earn in their opening matches?
A: Both teams earned three points.
Q: Who will Malaysia play next in the Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers?
A: Malaysia will play Vietnam on June 10 and Laos on October 9.