Malaysia ke separuh akhir

Oleh WAN FAKHRUL BAKAR
fakhrul@kosmo.com.my
MULA-mula kena belasah, sekarang melangkah bergaya ke separuh akhir.Begitu cabaran yang dilalui skuad bola sepak negara pada Kejohanan Bola Sepak Piala AFF Suzuki 2010.

Semalam, skuad bimbingan K. Rajagobal itu mara ke separuh akhir selepas membelasah Laos 5-1 pada perlawanan terakhir peringkat Kumpulan A di Stadium Jaka Baring, Palembang.

Pada masa yang sama, terima kasih kepada bekas penyerang import Selangor, Bambang Pamungkas yang menjadi watak penting dalam membantu skuad negara layak ke separuh akhir, semalam.

Bambang mengesahkan kemenangan Indonesia apabila menjaringkan gol kemenangan pasukannya ke atas Thailand dalam satu lagi perlawanan Kumpulan A di Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta.

Pada aksi semalam, skuad kebangsaan mudah membelasah Laos 5-1 menerusi dua jaringan Amri Yahyah serta masing-masing satu gol daripada Amirulhadi Zainal, Norshahrul Idlan Talaha dan Mahali Jasuli.

Kemaraan Malaysia dibantu kejayaan Indonesia menewaskan Thailand 2-1 hasil dua sepakan penalti Bambang pada minit ke-81 dan 88 biarpun Thailand mendahului hasil jaringan Suree Sukha pada minit ke-68.

Dengan keputusan itu, Indonesia muncul juara Kumpulan A dengan sembilan mata maksimum diikuti Malaysia di tangga kedua dengan empat mata, Thailand ketiga dengan dua mata dan Laos menduduki kedudukan tercorot dengan satu mata.

Malaysia selaku naib juara Kumpulan A akan berdepan juara Kumpulan B iaitu sama ada Filipina, Vietnam atau Singapura pada 15 Disember di Stadium Nasional, Bukit Jalil dan di tempat lawan pada 18 Disember depan.

Pada aksi malam tadi, jurulatih kebangsaan, K. Rajagobal membuat empat pertukaran dalam kesebelasannya.

Sabre Mat Abu, Faizal Muhammad, Khyril Muhymeen Zambri dan Amri Yahyah mengisi tempat Asararuddin Putra Omar, Fadhli Shas, Amirulhadi dan Safee Sali.

Amri menanduk masuk gol pertama Malaysia seawal minit ketiga hasil hantaran Norshahrul tetapi Laos pantas menyamakan kedudukan menerusi Lamnao Singto pada minit ketujuh.

Namun Malaysia berjaya menamatkan separuh masa pertama dengan mendahului 2-1 hasil jaringan kedua Amri yang menolak masuk bola hantaran kapten, Safiq Rahim pada minit ke-39.

Sisa perjuangan Laos semakin luntur selepas Malaysia menambah gol ketiga menerusi pemain gantian, Amirulhadi pada minit ke-73 dan gol keempat menerusi Norshahrul pada minit ke-76, kedua-duanya hasil kesilapan pertahanan Laos, Kitsada.

Pesta jaringan Malaysia diakhiri bek kanan, Mahali yang naik ke atas untuk menyumbat gol kelima pada minit ke-90.

Reina boo-boo blunder ...but Reds still qualify for round of 32

BUCHAREST: Liverpool reached the last 32 of the Europa League when they drew 1-1 with Steaua Bucharest in a Group K tie in Romania this morning — despite goalkeeper Pepe Reina's blunder.

Midfielder Milan Jovanovic's goal in the 19th minute via a header was cancelled out when Reina allowed Eder Bonfim's effort to escape his grasp and creep over the line.

A point would have been enough to put Roy Hodgson's side through but Utrecht's 3-3 draw with Napoli ensured they could not be caught at the top of the table with a match still to play.

Hodgson put his faith in fringe players and reserves having travelled to Romania without eight first-team players and he was rewarded by the likes of Jovanovic and Ryan Babel.

Neither has made much of an impression to date in their Anfield careers, although Jovanovic admittedly has only had a little more than four months to settle in.

However, they produced decent performances this morning to assist the visitors.

Meanwhile, Reina accepted responsibility for Steaua's equaliser but remains happy with his side's qualification.

"I thought one of their players was offside for the goal but I've watched replays and it's my fault. It's my mistake and I have to handle that and get through," Reina told ESPN.

"He was definitely obstructing me, but I should have reacted much better than I did. I will handle the mistake and improve."

Reina praised the younger players — including the likes of Martin Kelly, Danny Wilson, Dani Pacheco and Jonjo Shelvey — for earning the point.

"We have to give them some credit because we made a great effort.

"We have players out there with not much experience and they showed great character and helped us get the point we needed," said Reina, who was the captain this morning.