Harimau Malaya vs. Kuwait
Skuad Harimau Malaya akan bertemu pasukan Kuwait dalam perlawanan latihan malam ini bagi persiapan untuk menghadapi Kelayakan Piala Dunia 2022 / Piala Asia 2023. Tiga perlawanan terakhir Kumpulan G, Pusingan 2 Kelayakan Piala Dunia 2022 / Piala Asia 2023 menanti skuad bimbingan jurulatih Tan Cheng Hoe iaitu bertemu UAE (3 Jun), Vietnam (11 Jun) dan Thailand (15 Jun 2021).
Rekod pertemuan menentang Kuwait berpihak kepada pasukan lawan. Dalam 13 perlawanan pasukan kebangsaan hanya mencatatkan 3 kemenangan, sekali seri dan 9 kekalahan.
Kesemua kemenangan Malaysia dicipta dalam kejohanan Pestabola Merdeka. Kali terakhir pasukan kebangsaan mengalahkan Kuwait adalah pada tahun 1980, dengan kemenangan 2 – 1.
Dua lagi kemenangan direkodkan pada edisi tahun 1973. Kemenangan perlawanan pertama adalah untuk menentukan kumpulan. Setelah terikat 0-0 dalam masa penuh, perlawanan mengheret ke sepakan penalti. Malaysia menang 3-2 dengan sepakan penalti berjaya disempurnakan oleh Soh Chin Aun, Wong Choon Wah dan Namat Abdullah.
Malaysia-Kuwait bertemu sekali lagi di pentas final. Pasukan kebangsaan bangkit dari ketinggalan 0-1 dan menang bergaya 3-1 untuk muncul juara Pestabola Merdeka 1973. Gol-gol pasukan negara dijaringkan oleh Mokhtar Dahari (2) dan Harun Jusoh.
Semoga kejayaan memihak kepada pasukan negara walaupun ini sekadar perlawanan latihan untuk jurulatih Tan Cheng Hoe membentuk pasukan dan strategi bagi perlawanan penting seterusnya, Kelayakan Piala Dunia 2022 / Piala Asia 2023.
Selamat maju jaya Harimau Malaya!
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The Harimau Malaya squad will meet Kuwait at tonight’s training match in preparation for the 2022 World Cup / 2023 Asian Cup Qualifiers. The remaining three matches of the qualifying tournament await coach Tan Cheng Hoe’s team, that is against UAE (June 3), Vietnam (June 11) and Thailand (June 15).
Malaysia’s longstanding record with Kuwait is in favour of the opposing team. After 13 matches, the national team recorded three wins, one draw, and nine losses.
All of Malaysia’s victories were achieved at the Merdeka Tournament. The national team’s last win was in 1980, where they defeated Kuwait 2 – 1.
Two more wins were recorded in 1973’s tournament. Their first win determined their group in the tournament. After a 0 – 0 draw in full time, the match headed to penalty kicks. Malaysia won 3 – 2 after successfully penalty kicks by Soh Chin Aun, Wong Choon Wah and Namat Abdullah.
Malaysia and Kuwait met again at the final round of the tournament. The national team bounced back from their 0 – 1 deficit, winning 3 – 1 to emerge as the 1973 Merdeka Tournament champions. The goals were scored by Mokhtar Dahari (2) and Harun Jusoh.
Although this is a training match for Coach Tan Cheng Hoe to form his team and strategy for their next important match at the 2022 World Cup / 2023 Asian Cup Qualifiers, we believe in the national team achieve a win over Kuwait.
Best of luck to Harimau Malaya!
(Photo: Harimau Malaya emerging as the 1973 champions after defeating Kuwait twice.)
