Malaysia U23 national team opening the tournament losing to Korea Republic U23 national team with a score of 1-4 in the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2022 Group stage, Group C at Lokomotiv Stadium, Tashkent
In this match, Malaysia started quite well when Hadi Fayyadh who got a good pass from Quentin Cheng made an attempt towards the South Korean goal as early as the fourth minute.
However, the semi-volley attempt made by Hadi Fayyadh was successfully saved by the opposing team’s goalkeeper, Goh Dong Min to save his goal from being missed.
A minute later, it was Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi’s turn to test the South Korean defense but his shot from outside the penalty area just missed to the left of the goal.
Shocked by the two attempts, Korea Republic coached by Hwang Seon-hong did not give space to the national squad players and dominated the action until the end of the game.
The dominance displayed passing off in the 31st minute when team captain Lee Sang-min easily headed in the ball from a corner kick taken by Lee Kang-in to put South Korea ahead.
The goal clearly increased Korea’s desire to add goals but the national squad’s defense and goalkeeper Rahadiazli Rahalim did not want their goal to be leaked until the end of the first half.
Three minutes after the second half resumed, South Korea added a second through a solid shot fired by Kim Tae-hwan from outside the penalty area following chaos when the national defender failed to remove the ball from the danger area.
The game in the last 10 minutes saw the line-up of Malaysia increase the tempo of the game by putting pressure on the Korea Republic stronghold.
The situation clearly gave space to the national squad to close the goal deficit when a beautiful pass from Nik Akif Syahiran Nik Mat continued to find Mukhairi Ajmal who then rushed quickly into the penalty area and calmly scored the South Korean goal in the 82nd minute.
The goal clearly made the national players look for an equalizer but a bit of forgetfulness in the excitement of getting the goal was punished by Chu Yong-wook who got two goals in the 88th and 92nd minutes.
With the defeat, the country’s young squad had no choice but to record a victory in the remaining meetings with Thailand and Vietnam to qualify for the quarterfinals.
Credit Photo : AFC
