Malaysia v. Nottingham Forest – 31 Julai 1982

Posted Jul 31, 2021 0

Pada hari ini, 31 Julai dalam tahun 1982, pasukan bolasepak Malaysia mengadakan perlawanan persahabatan dengan kelab divisyen 1 Inggeris, Nottingham Forest. Ini merupakan persediaan bagi anak didik M. Chandran, yang baru 2 bulan menggalas tugas sebagai jurulatih, untuk mengahadapi Pestabola Merdeka dalam masa lima hari.

Pasukan Forest tiba di Kuala Lumpur dua hari sebelum perlawanan tanpa dua bintang mereka, pengurus pasukan yang bersuara lantang, Brian Clough dan penjaga gol pilihan utama, Peter Shilton. Menurut ketua jurulatih, Ron Fenton, Clough dan Shilton masih bercuti bersama keluarga di Spain. Pasukan Forest baru seminggu memulakan latihan untuk menghadapi musim baharu.

Namun begitu, Forest membawa pemain sayap Scotland yang beraksi di Piala Dunia, John Robertson dan penyerang berkaliber Justin Fashanu. Mereka adalah antara 14 pemain dan 4 pegawai yang akan berada di Stadium Merdeka, termasuklah Viv Anderson yang pernah beraksi menentang pasukan Malaysia pada tahun 1978. Pada waktu itu Anderson bersama skuad England B yang terikat seri 1-1. Gol-gol dijaringkan oleh Alan Kennedy dan Mokhtar Dahari.

Pada hari perlawanan, seperti yang dijangka, pasukan Forest lebih banyak menguasai permaianan. Mereka mempamerkan kelebihan dari segi taktikal dan persefahaman antara pemain. Namun begitu, penjaga gol R. Arumugam dan benteng pertahanan pasukan kebangsaan berjaya menyekat gawang daripada dibolosi sehinggalah ke minit 58.

Ian Wallace berjaya menjaringkan gol pertama setelah mendapat hantaran lintang daripada John Robertson. Forest menambah dua gol lagi pada minit 69 dan 73. Kamal Khalid menghadiahkan gol kedua. Kamal yang ingin menghadang Steve Hodge daripada umpanan pemain tengah Steve Wigley menyepak bola melepasi R. Arumugam yang tergamam. Manakala jaringan pemain sayap kanan Calvin Plummer melengkapkan kemenangan 3-0.

Walaupun tewas, jurulatih M. Chandran memuji persembahan secara keseluruhan anak buahnya. Pemain bek tengah, K. Gunasekaran dan pemain tengah Ahmad Yusof menunjukkkan permain yang cemerlang. Cuma barisan hadapan yang agak merunsingkan. Banyak percubaan ke arah gol yang tidak tepat. Walaubagaimanapun M. Chandran tetap yakin akan persembahan anak didiknya di kejohanan Pestabola Merdeka nanti.

Malaysia:
R.Arumugam (Ong Yu Tiang), Wong Hung Nung, Jamal Nasir, Kamal Khalid, K. Gunasekaran (Aw Kim Leong), Ahmad Yusof (G.Torairaju), Lim Teong Kim (Yunus Alif), Khan Hung Meng, Johari Maina (K. Kanagarajah), Chen Wooin Haw (Abdul Muin), Saidin Osman.

Nottingham Forest:
Steve Sutton, Viv Anderson, Ian Bowyer, Mark Proctor, Willy Young (Steve Wigley), Einar Aas, Calvin Plummer, Ian Wallace, Justin Fashanu (Steve Hodge), Colin Walsh (Chris Fairclough), John Robertson

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On this day – July 31 – in 1982, Malaysia held a friendly match with English Division 1 club Nottingham Forest. This was preparation for M. Chandran’s players before they face the Merdeka Tournament in five days. He had only been their coach for two months.

The Forest team arrived in Kuala Lumpur two days before the match without their two stars, outspoken team manager Brian Clough and first choice goalkeeper Peter Shilton. According to head coach Ron Fenton, Clough and Shilton were still on holiday with their families in Spain. The team had begun their training only a week ago before they faced the new season.

Nevertheless, Nottingham Forest brought with them Scottish winger John Robertson, who had played in the World Cup, and aggressive striker Justin Fashanu. They were among the 14 players and four officials who stepped into Merdeka Stadium – including Viv Anderson, who played against the Malaysian team in 1978. Back then, Anderson was with the England B squad and they tied with our national team 1–1. The goals were scored by Alan Kennedy and Mokhtar Dahari.

On match day, Nottingham Forest were more in control of the game as expected. They were advantageous in terms of their tactics and the players had a good understanding between them. Nevertheless, goalkeeper R. Arumugam and the national team’s strong defense managed to keep the goal blocked until the 58^th minute.

Ian Wallace scored the first goal after John Robertson passed him the ball. They added two more goals in the 69^th and 73^rd minute. Kamal Khalid gifted their second goal after trying to block Steve Hodge from receiving a pass from midfielder Steve Wigley. It led to him accidentally kicking the ball past a shocked R. Arumugam. Shortly after, right wing player Calvin Plummer’s goal secured their 3–0 victory.

Despite the loss, coach M. Chandran praised the overall performance of his players. Specifically, Centreback K. Gunasekaran and midfielder Ahmad Yusof demonstrated excellent gameplay. It was the front line of players who had underwhelming performances, including numerous failed attempts at scoring goals. Nevertheless, M. Chandran remained confident of his players who soon faced the Merdeka Tournament.

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