Malaysians stage stunning comeback to upset their Singapore counterparts. Second-half goals from Nazmi Faiz and Ahmad Hazwan cancel out early strike from Jonathan Toto.
The win sees them climb to second in the table with a game in hand, while it leaves the Young Lions, who have been winless all season, sitting precariously at the bottom of the table.
The first chance of the game fell to the visitors, when in the 8th minute a delicate back-heel by Jonathan Toto found Benjamine Lee on the left flank.
Lee whipped in a cross that was met by Faris Ramli, but the latter’s looping header drifted just over the bar.
Harimau Muda responded almost immediately when Wan Zack Haikal cut in onto his left foot, deceived his defender, and teed a shot for Irfan Faizal, but his shot was deflected off target.
It was not long before a moment of individual brilliance broke the deadlock.
Fifteen minutes into the game, Jonathan Toto stole the ball from midfield, skipped past a few defenders and unleashed a left-footed piledriver into the top corner from 25-yards out giving the Young Lions the lead.
The goal brought more urgency and adventure to the game and Harimau Muda had a glorious chance to cancel out Toto’s opener almost immediately when in the 18th minute, a long pass from Fadhli Sais eluded a ball-watching Young Lions defence to find Wan Zack Haikal.
But the unmarked winger scuffed his shot to the disappointment of the vociferous Harimau fans.
Coach Ong Kim Swee made two bold tactical substitutions late into the first-half bringing on Nazmi Faiz and Syahrul Azwari in a bid to claw a goal back, but the Tigers failed to capitalise on their chances.
The home team started the second-half the brighter of the two and within three minutes, reaped the dividends of their persistence. A mixture of fortune and shoddy defending saw Nazmi Faiz pounce onto a loose ball to slot home the equaliser.
The next fifteen minutes were marred by a series of stoppages as the game became more physical as tempers and tackles were flying in all directions.
Fifteen minutes from time, Fadhli Shas rattled the bar with a powerful header and the loose ball fell to Ahmad Hazman, who gave the home side the lead.
The home team refused to sit back and defend their lead and six minutes later were rewarded for their bravado when Nazmi Faiz scored his second goal of the game from a snapshot just off the edge of the box, that deflected off a defender, sending the Tigers fans into delirium.
By Goal.Com
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