Entering the year 2011, fellow Malaysian are ready to celebrate New Year like never before yet once again. Last year, during the same time, Malaysia national football team gave 28,250,000 Malaysians (according to wiki) something that they’ll never forget. A gold medal from 2009 Laos sea games; beating the four times finalist (in a row), Vietnam at the final by one goal to nil. What makes the victory even sweeter; the squad had knocked out 8 times defending champion, Thailand in the group stage. Also, Harimau Malaya was beaten by Vietnam by three goals to one earlier in group stage, so it is a sweet revenge from K. Rajagopal’s boys.
Harimau Malaya starts the tournament in style when they beat the new formed country, Timor Leste by eleven goals without a reply. With that victory, Malaysia ends up 20 years SEA Games football gold medal drought!!!
This year, Harimau Malaya once again likely to repeat last year successful history when tonight, they will face Indonesia away from home with three goals lead from the first leg home victory at National Stadium Bukit Jalil last Sunday. Although with three goals lead, it will never be easy for the team. We have very bitter memories when came to facing Indonesia in this tournament. Did you remember the 2004 tournament (known as Tiger Cup by that time)? Malaysia enter the 2nd leg at home with confident after beating Indonesia 2-1 away. Malaysia even scored the first goal in the home game before Indonesia went rampage and scored 4 goals to crush the Malaysians dreams.
If Rajagopal’s wonder boys could defend the lead tonight, Malaysia’s revenge will be paid in style because they don’t just humiliate Indonesia at home, but also can lift the trophy at rival’s stance. It’s like waving our flag in the enemy’s territory during a war!!! But, just like I said earlier, it won’t be easy, plus they already beat us at their home 5-1 in the opening day. So, be careful and good luck. We were proud of you no matter what the result tonight!!
P/s: just open the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 website and see our knockout stage hero, Mohd Safee list as the tournament top scorer with four goals and counting.
The last time we enter the final was in the first edition of Tiger Cup, lost 1-0 to Thailand in Singapore back in 1996.
Only three nations had won this title, Thailand and Singapore had won three times respectively, while Vietnam had won once in previous tournament.
Indonesia never won the tournament but enter the final for the fourth times already. So, they are desperate to win as much as we do.
If we win tonight, K. Rajagopal deserves to be Dato’ perhaps? Shah Rukh Khan who had never done anything to Malaysia had been given the title, why don’t give it to someone who makes Malaysia’s Football Team a threat again?
He also makes Malaysia qualified to the second round in 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games after 32 years!!!
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