Harimau Malaya's Paulo Josue (fourth, left) scoring a goal against Solomon Island in the 2023 Tier 1 International Friendly at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Gong Badak Stadium. The full result saw Harimau Malaya 4-1 Solomon Island. - Bernamapic
PETALING JAYA: Harimau Malaya got their third win of the year after thrashing the Solomon Islands 4-1 in an international friendly at the Sultan Mizan Stadium in Gong Badak, Terengganu on Wednesday (June 14).
The Solomon Islands drew first blood in the 11th minute when striker Raphael Lea’i had the easiest of tap-ins when he finished off a pass from Gagame Feni, who took advantage of a mistake from Malaysia goalkeeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi.
Malaysia were shaky after that goal but stabilised from the 30th minute onwards, launching attack after attack to look for an equaliser but Solomon Islands Philipp Mango was up to the task.
And Harimau Malaya deservedly got one in the 40th minute when playmaker turned striker Paulo Josue scored his first goal for Malaysia after three appearances when he capitalised on a defensive rebound.
Five minutes later, winger Arif Aiman Hanapi won a penalty and converted it, also his first goal for Malaysia after 16 caps.
In the 62nd minute, Kim Pan-gon made three changes, bringing on wingers Safawi Rasid and Akhyar Rashid and playmaker Lee Tuck for Endrick Dos Santos, Arif and Faisal Halim respectively.
Akhyar and Lee threatened from the flanks but their crosses were dealt well the Solomon Islands defence.
In the 76th minute, Safawi played the role of a super-sub when he superbly controlled Tuck’s cross, by making just two touches and unleashing a superb volley past Mango.
Tuck got a goal too when he scored in the 90th minute when he finished off a cute pass from another substitute Syahmi Safari.
In March, Malaysia beat Turkmenistan 1-0 and Hong Kong 2-0.
