Perlawanan Pertama Malaya di Pestabola Merdeka 1957
Pasukan lawan Malaya bagi perlawanan pertama mereka di edisi sulung Pestabola Merdeka, pada 1 September 1957, adalah Burma (Myanmar). Dari awal perlawanan tersebut, pasukan kebangsaan bermain dengan penuh keyakinan di tanah air sendiri dan mula menyerang untuk menembusi kubu pertahanan Burma. Malaya berjaya menjaringkan gol pertama pada minit ke-19.
Rahim Omar memulakan gerakan dengan hantaran kepada Abdul Ghani Minhat yang melambung bola ke sebelah kiri padang, di mana G. Govindarajoo sudah bersedia untuk melepasi pemain pertahanan Burma. Govindarajoo kemudian menghantar bola kepada Johnny Wong Kong Leong yang berjaya menjaringkan gol pertama Malaya dengan tendangan tinggi menggegar gawang lawan.
Lima minit kemudian, Rahim Omar mengambil sepakan percuma dan sekali lagi menghantar bola kepada Ghani Minhat. Selepas itu, bola disepak kepada Pang Siang Hock yang membuat rembatan melepasi penjaga gol Burma, Hung Tin. Seminit kemudian, Govindarajoo memberikan Malaya gol ketiga mereka dengan jaringan dari jarak hampir 20 meter.
Burma berjaya membalas pada minit ke-33 apabila Yaui Do menjaringkan gol pertama mereka. Namun, benteng Burma terperangkap apabila Mok Wai Hong menyelinap masuk satu lagi gol bagi Malaya pada minit ke-37. Burma berjaya menjaringkan gol kedua melalui Vernon Styles tiga minit sebelum separuh masa.
Seminit dalam separuh masa kedua, gandingan Rahim-Ghani kembali menyerang. Rahim Omar berjaya membawa bola dari kanan ke kiri padang dan menembusi pertahanan Burma. Ghani Minhat kemudian memecut untuk menjaringkan gol kelima dan terakhir Malaya.
Barisan pemain Malaya: Sexton Lourdes, Ng Mun Keai, Tang Cheok Foo, Mok Wai Hong, Edwin Dutton, Chuah Poh Aun, Pang Siang Hock, Rahim Omar, Abdul Ghani Minhat, Wong Kong Leong, G. Govindarajoo.
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Malaya’s first match at the inaugural Merdeka Tournament was against Burma (Myanmar) on September 1, 1957. Early on, they began attacking and tearing down Burma’s defence, showing confidence on their own soil. It was in the 19th minute where Malaya scored their first goal.
Rahim Omar started the move with a pass to Abdul Ghani Minhat, who lobbed the ball to the left side of the field, where Govindarajoo was ready to take on Burma’s defenders. Govindarajoo then passed the ball to Johnny Wong Kong Leong, who gave Malaya their first goal of the tournament with a high shot into the net.
Five minutes later, Rahim Omar took a free kick and passed it to Ghani Minhat once again. The ball made its way to Pang Siang Hock who followed through with a shot past the Burmese goalkeeper, Hung Tin. Just a minute after, Govindarajoo gave Malaya their third goal with an impressive shot from almost 20 metres away.
Burma managed to retaliate in the 33rd minute as Yaui Do scored their first goal. However, they were caught off guard as Mok Wai Hong sneaked in another goal for Malaya in the 37th minute. Burma did manage to score a second goal three minutes before half-time was called through Vernon Styles.
A minute into the second half, the Rahim-Ghani duo striked again. Rahim Omar took the ball from right to left and pierced it through Burma’s defence. Ghani Minhat then ran for the ball before scoring Malaya’s fifth and final goal.
Malaya line-up: Sexton Lourdes, Ng Mun Keai, Tang Cheok Foo, Mok Wai Hong, Edwin Dutton, Chuah Poh Aun, Pang Siang Hock, Rahim Omar, Abdul Ghani Minhat, Wong Kong Leong, G. Govindarajoo.
