11 MEI 1975 – Arsenal Beraksi di Stadium Merdeka
50 tahun yang lalu, Malaysia bertemu pasukan Arsenal dalam perlawanan persahabatan di Stadium Merdeka. Ini merupakan pertembungan pertama mereka dalam siri dua perlawanan sebelum ke Pulau Pinang.
Sebelum itu, Arsenal dijemput mengadakan klinik bimbingan di Kelab Selangor untuk 45 pemain muda berumur 15-18 tahun dari beberapa sekolah. Ini memberi peluang keemasan bagi anak murid untuk belajar daripada pemain-pemain Gunners gaya teknik permainan bola sepak Inggeris.
Lebih 30,000 penonton membanjiri Stadium Merdeka untuk menyaksikan kelab profesional Divisyen Satu Inggeris itu menentang bintang-bintang kebangsaan Malaysia seperti Mokhtar Dahari, Shukor Salleh, Soh Chin Ann dan Isa Bakar.
Pada malam itu, Pilihan Malaysia mempamerkan persembahan yang hebat ke atas pasukan pelawat mereka. Mokhtar Dahari menjadi wira pasukan setelah menjaringkan dua gol pada minit ke-42 dan ke-77. Penjaga gol R. Arumugam juga menjadi sebab kejayaan Malaysia dengan tidak membenarkan sebarang percubaan Arsenal melepasi gawangnya. Ia merupakan malam yang sememangnya membanggakan bagi pasukan Malaysia apabila perlawanan berakhir 2–0.
Perlawanan kedua diadakan pada 14 Mei di Stadium Bandaraya Pulau Pinang, di mana seramai 20,000 orang menyaksikan pasukan Pilihan Malaysia membuktikan kemahiran mereka sekali lagi. Selepas separuh masa pertama tanpa jaringan, Malaysia berjaya menyumbat gol pembukaan menerusi anak jati Pulau Pinang, Isa Bakar pada minit ke-74. Namun, dengan perlawanan berbaki hanya sepuluh saat, Arsenal berjaya menyamakan kedudukan melalui penjaring terbanyak mereka, Brian Kidd.
//
50 years ago, Arsenal was in Malaysia to play against the Malaysian Selection football team in a friendly match at Merdeka Stadium. It was their first of two, with the latter being held in Penang.
Earlier during their visit, Arsenal conducted a coaching clinic at Selangor Club for 45 boys aged 15-18 from various schools. It was the opportunity of a lifetime for these aspiring footballers to be taught techniques by the Gunners themselves and exposed to the English style of play.
Over 30,000 spectators flooded Merdeka Stadium to witness the professional English Division One club take on Malaysia’s national stars including Mokhtar Dahari, Shukor Salleh, Soh Chin Ann and Isa Bakar.
On the night, Malaysia displayed an impressive performance over their visiting opponents. Mokhtar Dahari rose to the occasion and scored two goals in the 42nd and 77th minutes. Goalkeeper R. Arumugam was also a reason for their success by not allowing any of Arsenal’s attempts past him. It was a prideful night for the Malaysian team when the match ended 2–0.
The second match was held on May 14 at Penang’s City Stadium, where a crowd of 20,000 witnessed the Malaysian Selection showing off their skills once again. After a scoreless first half, they scored the opening goal through Penang-born Isa Bakar in the 74th minute. It was not until the final ten seconds of the match that Arsenal netted one in through their top scorer, Brian Kidd.
