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| Malaysia goalkeeper Farizal Marlias blocks Philippines’ Stephan Markus Schrock charge in their friendly yesterday. The match ended 0-0. Pic by Owee Ah Chun |
MALAYSIA allowed Philippines team more intent on defending to escape with a 0-0 draw after missing a hatful of chances in an international friendly at the Shah Alam Stadium yesterday.
National coach K. Rajagobal fielded a relatively experienced side unlike the 6-0 win over Sri Lanka in April when a few players were handed their first caps.
He seemed pleased with his side organisation against a physical Philippine side.
"We can be happy that we created 15 or 16 chances. We played well against a physical side, it was a high tempo game and I could not ask for more.
"Of course we missed chances which could have finished the game but I'm not worried about that. I just wanted to see how the combination of the strikers worked," said Rajagobal.
Michael Weiss, the German coach of the Philippines, praised his side's effort as the visitors avoided defeat against Malaysia for only the fourth time in 17 meetings since 1962.
"Overall it was a great result, we got a taste of playing the AFF Cup champions on their own ground and we will know what it will be like in six months.
"In the second half, Malaysia put more pressure on us and we got a bit lucky at the end and our keeper made fine saves," said Weiss.
Save for an opening minute scare when Farizal Marlias almost let a back-pass trickle past him, Philippines were barely a threat in the first half despite fielding just two local-based players.
Their physical advantage was negated by disciplined defending with Farizal easily dealing with the corners and throw-ins pumped into the box.
Safee had two cracks at goal from outside the box with the second by Roland Muller at the right post before the goalkeeper denied Shahurain Abu Samah at the left post after the winger robbed a dithering Paul Mulders of possession to fashion the chance.
Malaysia's best chance came five minutes after the break when Norshahrul Idlan Talaha dummied for the on-rushing Safiq Rahim only for the skipper to put the ball wide with just Muller to beat.
Two minutes later Safiq's free-kick just shaved the post before Norshahrul's shot was deflected over when Muller rushed off his line in the 59th minute.
Azmi Muslim nearly caught Muller off-guard in the 64th minute when he fired in a free-kick from an acute angle and when Muller spilled a cross four minutes later, Norshahrul volleyed over an unguarded goal.
The game then petered out to a bore as numerous substitutions were made though there was still time at the death for S. Chanturu to blaze over from close-range following good work by fellow substitute Ahmad Shakir Ali.
By Devinder Singh
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