Malaysia’s U16 national team staged a late comeback to earn a 1-1 draw against Indonesia in an international friendly at Manahan Stadium, Solo
The friendly served as an important test for both Southeast Asian rivals ahead of the qualification campaign, which is scheduled to begin in November.
Malaysia, coached by Shukor Adan, fielded a side captained by central defender Adam Muqri, with Fareez Danial and Naim Musaddiq also featuring in the starting line-up.
Indonesia, meanwhile, named a strong squad led by captain Ramadhan Putra.
After an evenly contested encounter, the hosts finally broke the deadlock in the 79th minute. A shot from Chico Jericho was parried by the Malaysian goalkeeper, allowing substitute Dhamar Kusuma to react quickest and convert the rebound to give Indonesia a 1-0 lead.
Just as Indonesia appeared set to claim victory, Malaysia produced a dramatic response in the closing stages.
Substitute striker Muzakif Fitri capitalised on a golden opportunity with a composed finish, netting a late equaliser to silence the home crowd and secure a deserved draw for the Young Harimau.
The late strike highlighted Malaysia’s resilience and determination, ensuring the visitors left Solo with a positive result despite trailing for much of the final minutes.
The match ended 1-1, with both coaching staffs taking valuable lessons from the encounter as they continue fine-tuning their squads ahead of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers.
Malaysia and Indonesia are scheduled to meet again in a second friendly at Manahan Stadium on Tuesday, 7 July, providing both teams with another opportunity to assess their progress before the continental qualifiers begin
Credit Photo : FAM
