Malaysia national team tied Auckland FC, a club in New Zealand scoring 1-1 in the Friendly match at Go Media Stadium, Auckland.
Under the guidance of coach Pau Marti, Malaysia’s Harimau Malaya fielded a strong lineup featuring key players like captain Matthew Davies, Syihan Hazmi, Syamer Kutty, and rising star Nooa Laine.
The match began with both teams showing intent, trading attacks and creating opportunities. Auckland FC broke the deadlock in the 25th minute when left-back Francis de Vries burst forward and finished past Malaysia’s goalkeeper, Syihan Hazmi, giving the home side a 1-0 lead.
Despite the early setback, Malaysia regrouped and pushed for an equalizer in the second half. Their efforts paid off in the 59th minute when Nooa Laine, the talented midfielder from Selangor FC, found the back of the net to level the score at 1-1.
Malaysia continued to press forward, but Auckland FC’s defense held firm. The two minutes of added time did not alter the result, and the match ended in a draw. Several young players were given valuable playing time, including Azam Azmi, Harith Haiqal, Haqimi Azim, and Feroz Baharudin.
This friendly served as a warm-up for Malaysia’s upcoming international test against New Zealand on 14 October 2024, marking the first time in 18 years the two teams will face each other.
Credit Photo : FAM
