Kelayakan Piala Dunia 1986 – Cabaran Harimau Malaya Ke Seoul
Perlawanan pertama Malaysia dalam saingan Kelayakan Piala Dunia 1986 adalah pada 10 Mac 1985 menentang musuh lama Korea Selatan. 30,000 penonton hadir di Stadium Merdeka untuk menyaksikan pasukan kebangsaan berjuang untuk mara ke pusingan kedua. Dollah Salleh, yang berumur 22 tahun ketika itu, menjadi wira perlawanan setelah menjaringkan gol tunggal untuk memastikan kemenangan Malaysia.
Pada perlawanan seterusnya, Malaysia seri 0-0 dengan Nepal di Stadium Dasarath Rangasala Apabila mereka bertemu semula di tanah air sendiri, Zainal Abidin Hassan berjaya menjaringkan hatrik manakala Dollah Salleh dan Yunus Alif turut menyumbangkan gol untuk menjadikannya 5-0.
Malaysia mempunyai enam minggu untuk membuat persediaan bagi perlawanan timbal balik menentang Korea Selatan setelah kemenangan mereka atas Nepal pada 31 Mac. Namun, ketika inilah cabaran mula timbul.
Ketua jurulatih Frank Lord, yang telah membimbing pasukan kebangsaan dalam tiga perlawanan Kumpulan 3A, menyatakan hasratnya untuk mendapatkan perlepasan awal kontrak supaya dapat kembali ke England untuk potensi kontrak baharu di sana. Mengambil alih tanggungjawab ini ialah legenda bola sepak negara, Dato’ Mohamad Bakar, yang sebelum ini pernah menjadi jurulatih pasukan bersama Karl Weigang.
Mohamad Bakar dengan serta-merta menghadapi ujian pertama beliau apabila beberapa pemain utama cedera sekitar enam minggu tersebut. Dengan perlawanan Piala Malaysia yang sedang berlangsung, ramai pemain didapati cedera termasuk Ahmad Yusof, Wong Hung Nung dan Serbegeth Singh. Sementara itu, penjaga gol R. Arumugam terlibat dalam kemalangan kereta dalam perjalanan pulang ke rumah selepas perlawanan suku akhir Piala Malaysia antara Selangor dan Pahang. Beliau memerlukan enam minggu untuk pulih sepenuhnya setelah pembedahan lutut.
Bagaimanakah persediaan Malaysia sebelum pertempuran akhir dalam pusingan pertama ini?
Nantikan sambungan apabila kami mengimbas kembali perlawanan Korea Selatan lawan Malaysia di saingan Kelayakan Piala Dunia 1986.
(Sumber foto asli: Dunia Sukan)
//
Malaysia’s first match of the 1986 FIFA World Cup Qualification was on March 10, 1985 against longtime rivals South Korea. More than 30,000 spectators made their way to Stadium Merdeka to witness the national team fight to advance to the second round. 22-year-old Dollah Salleh became the hero of the match after scoring the sole goal.
In their next match, Malaysia drew with Nepal 0-0 at Dasarath Rangasala Stadium before they met again on home soil, where Zainal Abidin Hassan scored a hat trick. Dollah Salleh and Yunus Alif also contributed goals, making the final score 5-0.
Malaysia had six weeks to prepare for their second leg match with South Korea after their win against Nepal on March 31. However, this was where challenges began to arise.
National team coach Frank Lord, who guided the team through the aforementioned Group 3A matches, expressed his desire to end his contract early, stating that he had to return to England to discuss a potential new job. Taking over the helm was national football legend Mohamad Bakar who had previously coached Malaysia alongside Karl Weigang.
Mohamad Bakar immediately faced his first test when several key players were injured during this time. With Malaysia Cup matches underway, many players were found injured including Ahmad Yusof, Wong Hung Nung and Serbegeth Singh. Meanwhile, goalkeeper R. Arumugam was involved in a car accident when returning home after the Malaysia Cup quarterfinal between Selangor and Pahang and needed six weeks to fully recover from knee surgery.
How will Malaysia prepare before their final battle of the first round?
Stay tuned for our next post as we dive into the South Korea v Malaysia match.
