Going all out: Malaysia’s Paulo Josue (left) vying for the ball with an India player at the Gachabowli Stadium in Hyderabad. — FAM
PETALING JAYA: There were disappointed faces when Harimau Malaya were held 1-1 by India in an international friendly at the Gachabowli Stadium in Hyderabad, India, on Monday but interim coach Pau Marti Vicente said his boys would have learnt what is needed to do well in the Asian Cup 2027 third-round qualifiers next year.
The Spaniard believed that taking on the world’s No. 125 nation would help Malaysia, ranked No. 133, gauge their level and see what is needed to thrive in the qualifiers.
What is even better is that they will be playing in the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup starting on Dec 8, which will only help them prepare even better for the qualifiers, which are scheduled to start in March next year.
“We played two games away from home. We beat Laos (3-1) in Bangkok and now we got a draw against India. It was good preparation but I do understand that the boys want more. They want to win every game,” said Vicente.
“When the qualifiers come, we will be even better. We have the AFF coming up in two weeks, so yes, preparation-wise is good.
“We do feel that in some games, with a bit more luck, a bit more precision, we will win them. So we will continue to grow.”
In Hyderabad, Harimau Malaya got the lead in the 18th minute when Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Sandhu completely misjudged the flight of a long ball, which was then capitalised by playmaker Paulo Josue, who tapped into an empty net.
The home side equalised in the 38th minute when a beautifully flighted corner from winger Brandon Fernandes was finished off by centreback Rahul Bheke with a header.
In the dying minutes of the match, Malaysia could have had the winner but striker Fergus Tierney’s header off a Safawi Rasid cross hit the post in the 92nd minute.
“The game was tight. In the first-half, we struggled to get our way of playing going. In the second, we improved a bit,” said Vicente.
“The result was fair but we missed a few chances at the end of the game. Disappointed but we will take the draw.”
The national team will land in Kuala Lumpur today as players will return to their clubs and prepare for the Malaysia Cup round of 16 first-leg games.
Meanwhile, India coach Manolo Marquez had a rather positive outlook on the team’s prospects next year when the Blue Tigers begin their Asian Cup 2027 qualification campaign.
“We are disappointed not to win but I am sure we will qualify for the AFC Asian Cup in 2027. Now we have four months. I know that it’s been a while since the national team have won a game but we will win in March,” said Marquez.
“On the positive side, I think that we pressed very well. We defended very well particularly. They (Malaysia) didn’t create chances till the last moment when they hit the post. The reality is that we made good combinations but not too clearly.
“The other good aspect is that the goal we scored was with a very good action. All the players, not only the delivery of Brandon Fernandes and the header of Rahul Bheke but everyone in the set-piece did their job.
“There are positive things but we wanted to win and it was not possible. But I am satisfied with the efforts of the guys and some things that we improved.”
