Malaysia Coach Pau Marti Vicente Optimistic about ASEAN Championship Prospects
Despite a narrow 1-0 Group A loss to Thailand in their third match of the 2024 ASEAN Championship, Malaysian national football coach Pau Marti Vicente is optimistic that his team can still advance to the semi-finals of the tournament.
Coach Vicente Expresses Pride in Players’ Performance
Vicente expressed pride in his players’ performance, especially as they were playing away against the defending champions of the tournament. He emphasized that mistakes are part and parcel of the game and refrained from blaming goalkeeper Muhammad Haziq Nadzli for the costly error.
Opportunity to Qualify Still Remains
Looking ahead, Vicente said his team still have a chance to qualify for the semi-finals if they deliver a strong performance and beat Singapore in their final group match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on December 20. Malaysia suffered their first defeat of the tournament in their third Group A match at the Rajamangala National Stadium.
Thai Forward Netted the Decisive Goal
Thai forward Patrik Gustavsson netted the decisive goal in the 57th minute after a misplaced pass by Haziq.
Thailand Head Coach Masatada Ishii’s Comments
Meanwhile, Thailand head coach Masatada Ishii was pleased with his team’s hard-fought victory. He noted that his team did not play as well as they could have, especially in attack, and hoped for improvement in their next game. Suphanat Mueanta, Thailand’s attacking midfielder, was named the Man of the Match after providing the assist for the only goal of the match.
Current Standings
Malaysia, who drew 2-2 with Cambodia in their opening match and beat Timor-Leste 3-2 on Wednesday (December 11), have four points from three outings to be placed third in the five-team Group A standings, behind Thailand and Singapore, who both have six points from two matches.
Conclusion
Despite the narrow loss, Malaysia’s coach remains optimistic about the team’s prospects in the ASEAN Championship. With one more match to go in the group stage, the team still has an opportunity to qualify for the semi-finals if they deliver a strong performance against Singapore.
FAQs
- What is the current standing of Malaysia in the ASEAN Championship?
- Malaysia is currently third in the five-team Group A standings with four points from three outings.
- How many points does Malaysia need to qualify for the semi-finals?
- Malaysia needs to win their remaining match against Singapore and earn a strong performance to have a chance to qualify for the semi-finals.
- Who scored the decisive goal for Thailand in their win over Malaysia?
- Thai forward Patrik Gustavsson netted the decisive goal in the 57th minute after a misplaced pass by Haziq.