Mengingati Pestabola Merdeka 1969 (Bhg 3)
Pada peringkat kumpulan Kejohanan Merdeka 1969, Malaysia menduduki tempat kedua dalam Kumpulan A setelah menewaskan Thailand (1-0) dan Korea Selatan (4-1), dan tewas kepada Indonesia (1-3). Bersama Indonesia, yang terbukti sebagai pasukan terbaik Kumpulan A, Malaysia mara ke peringkat separuh akhir.
Semakin ketara bahawa Malaysia akan bertemu Indonesia sekali lagi pada perlawanan akhir. Sebelum itu, Malaysia terpaksa menentang Burma. Hujan turun pada malam perlawanan dan Malaysia seperti kebiasaannya menunjukkan teknik kawalan yang baik di atas padang basah, yang akhirnya menyebabkan Burma kecundang.
Shaharuddin Abdullah, yang telah menjaringkan 5 gol untuk Malaysia, membuktikan bahawa sengatnya masih berbisa. Beliau menjaringkan gol pertama Malaysia malam itu pada minit ke-24. Beliau menjaringkan dua gol lagi pada minit ke-40 dan ke-80. Malaysia, sebagai juara bertahan, kini mendapat tempat ke perlawanan akhir, di mana mereka akan bertemu Indonesia.
Sebelum ini, Indonesia telah memenangi Piala Merdeka sebanyak dua kali iaitu pada 1961 dan 1962. Pada perlawanan akhir tahun 1961, pasukan kebangsaan tewas 1-2 kepada Indonesia dan mereka bertekad untuk menghalang sejarah berulang. Indonesia mara ke perlawanan akhir setelah mengalahkan Singapura 9–2.
Lebih daripada 40,000 penonton membanjiri stadium untuk menyaksikan perlawanan akhir Pestabola Merdeka 1969 dan mereka dipersembahkan dengan perlawanan yang mendebarkan. Indonesia menjaringkan gol pembukaan pada minit ke-2 namun kedua-dua pasukan terikat 2–2 apabila wisel separuh masa ditiup.
Kapten Abdullah Noordin, menjaringkan gol pertama Malaysia melalui sepakan penalti setelah bek kiri Indonesia Sunarto menyentuh bola. Beberapa minit kemudian, Wong Fook Yoong bijak memperdayakan barisan pertahanan Indonesia tetapi akhirnya berada di sudut yang sukar di hadapan penjaga gol Indonesia. Dengan pantasnya, Fook Yong menghantar bola kepada Shaharuddin Abdullah untuk mencetak gol kedua mereka.
Pada separuh masa kedua, Indonesia berjaya menjaringkan satu gol lagi dan pasukan Harimau Malaya kesuntukan masa dan tak terdaya untuk menghasilkan gol penyamaan. Dengan kemenangan 3–2 ke atas tuan rumah, Indonesia dinobatkan juara Pestabola Merdeka 1969.
Sepanjang kejohanan, Shaharuddin Abdullah merupakan penjaring gol terbanyak Malaysia setelah menjaringkan lapan daripada 11 gol dalam lima perlawanan. Namun, Ye Nyunt dari Burma mendapat gelaran penjaring terbanyak kejohanan dengan 11 gol. Burma juga merupakan pasukan dengan gol terbanyak dengan jumlah 24 gol, diikuti dengan Indonesia dengan 22 gol. Kedua-dua pasukan mempunyai agregat yang tertinggi. Malaysia berada di tempat ketiga dengan hasilan 11 gol.
Barisan pemain separuh akhir: Chow Chee Keong, Abdullah Noordin, Foo Fook Chuan, Namat Abdullah, M. Chandran, Chan Yoon Chong, Harun Jusoh, Ibrahim Mydin, Shaharuddin Abdullah, Wong Choon Wah, Zulkifli Norbit
Barisan pemain final: Chow Chee Keong, Abdullah Noordin, Foo Fook Chuan, Sardar Khan, M. Chandran, Chan Yoon Chong, Wong Fook Yoong (Lim Kim Lian), Namat Abdullah, Shaharuddin Abdullah, Wong Choon Wah, Zulkifli Norbit
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Remembering the 1969 Merdeka Cup 1969 (Part 3)
Malaysia placed second in Group A of the 1969 Merdeka Tournament after defeating Thailand (1-0) and South Korea (4-1), and losing to Indonesia (1-3). Along with Indonesia who topped Group B, Malaysia advanced to the semi-finals.
It was getting clearer that Malaysia would meet Indonesia again in the finals. But first, Malaysia had to take on Burma. It was a rainy night but Malaysia showed some skillful techniques on the wet field, which left Burma defeated.
Shaharuddin Abdullah, who had already scored 5 goals for Malaysia, proved he was not done yet when he gave Malaysia their first goal of the night in the 24th minute. He scored twice more in the 40th and 80th minute. Defending champions Malaysia had now secured a place in the finals, where they would meet Indonesia.
Indonesia had previously won the trophy twice, in 1961 and 1962. In the 1961 finals, the national team lost 1-2 to Indonesia and they were determined not to let history repeat itself. They advanced to the 1969 finals after defeating Singapore 9–2.
A record-breaking 40,000+ spectators witnessed the 1969 Merdeka Tournament final and they were served a thrilling match. Indonesia scored the opening goal two minutes into the match but found themselves at an even 2-2 at half-time.
Captain Abdullah Noordin scored Malaysia’s first goal after Indonesian left-back Sunarto handled the ball and Malaysia was awarded with a penalty. A few minutes later, Wong Fook Yoong cleverly outwitted Indonesia’s defence but found himself at a difficult angle in front of the goalkeeper. Quick on his feet, he passed the ball to Shaharuddin Abdullah who produced their second goal.
In the second half, Indonesia managed to secure one more goal and Malaysia did not have enough power in time for an equaliser. Indonesia took home the 1969 Merdeka Tournament title after defeating the hosts 3-2.
Shaharuddin Abdullah was Malaysia’s highest goalscorer as he scored eight out of Malaysia’s 11 goals in their five matches. However, Ye Nyunt from Burma was crowned topscorer of the tournament after scoring 11 goals for his team. Burma was also the top-scoring team with 24 goals, followed by Indonesia at 22. Both teams had the highest aggregates. Malaysia was third in line with their 11 goals.
Semi-final Line-up: Chow Chee Keong, Abdullah Noordin, Foo Fook Chuan, Namat Abdullah, M. Chandran, Chan Yoon Chong, Harun Jusoh, Ibrahim Mydin, Shaharuddin Abdullah, Wong Choon Wah, Zulkifli Norbit
Final Line-up: Chow Chee Keong, Abdullah Noordin, Foo Fook Chuan, Sardar Khan, M. Chandran, Chan Yoon Chong, Wong Fook Yoong (Lim Kim Lian), Namat Abdullah, Shaharuddin Abdullah, Wong Choon Wah, Zulkifli Norbit
