AFF Suzuki Cup Group B: Malaysia win second straight match, Indonesia register first win

Matchday 2 in Group B of the AFF Suzuki Cup saw Malaysia pick up consecutive victories while Indonesia also recorded three points in high scoring matches.

Hat-trick hero Safawi Rasid inspired Malaysia to a convincing 4-0 win over Laos, making it two wins from two games for Harimau Malaya. 

Apart from the opening five minutes which saw Laos register three attempts on the Malaysian goal, it was a dominating performance by the Malaysians who put in a much more assertive and composed performance after Matchday 1. 

Rasid opened the scoring in the seventh minute when he tapped in from a cross on the left. The 24-year-old then doubled Malaysia’s lead and his tally when he headed home from a corner in the 34th minute. 

The third goal came in the 78th minute after much Malaysian persistence when defender Shahrul Saad cooly converted following a defence splitting pass from Baddrol Bakhtiar. 

Rasid eventually got his coveted hat-trick and his fourth goal of the tournament when he picked up a high pass from substitute R Kogileswaran, before drilling a driving shot with his left foot past the Laos keeper in net. 

The other Group B encounter saw Indonesia take on Cambodia in an engrossing match at the Bishan stadium in front of 673 fans. 

Indonesia took the lead in the fourth minute when defender Rachmat Irianto, left unmarked from close range, steered a pinpoint header into the Cambodian net following a corner. 

Captain Evan Dimas then got his name on the scoresheet 14 minutes later when his shot from an acute angle found its way into the bottom left corner of the net. 

The third Indonesian goal came in the 33rd minute when Irianto jumped highest and headed from a corner kick again. 

Cambodia gave themselves a lifeline just four minutes later when they scored from their very own corner after defender Yue Safy headed in from the near post.  

That hope was essentially extinguished in the 54th minute after Indonesian winger Ramai Rumakiek cut inside from the left flank before unleashing a deftly struck finish past goalkeeper Hul Kimhuy in the Cambodian net. 

Substitute Prak Mony Udom scored a Cambodian consolation in the 60th minute when his free kick took a decisive deflection off the Indonesian wall before making its way into the Indonesian net.

The results on Dec 9 mean that Malaysia sit atop Group B with six points while Indonesia share second spot with reigning champions Vietnam, after victories for both teams in their opening games. 

Indonesia next play Laos on Dec 12 in the early kick off while a mouth watering encounter will see table toppers Malaysia face the mighty Vietnam in the other match.