Football: Norshahrul Steers Malaysia To Victory Over Laos With Late Brace

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia left it late to carve out a 3-1 win over Laos for their second straight victory in Group A of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil Monday night. Striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha was the hero for Harimau Malaya when he netted twice in the late stages of the game to ensure all three points on home ground. The national team, still fresh from last Thursday’s 1-0 opening win over Cambodia, started brightly in front of 10,000 home fans. Although head coach Tan Cheng Hoe’s men controlled the game with some slick moves, they were stunned after just seven minutes as Laos opened the scoring when Phithack Kongmathilath’s free kick sailed past goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat. To their credit, the national players fought back to equalise seven minutes later when skipper Mohamad Zaquan Adha Abd Radzak cooly converted a cross from Muhammad Syahmi Safari. The teams went into the break tied at 1-1. Cheng Hoe made three substitutions for the second half, bringing on Muhammad Akhyar Abdul Rashid, Muhammad Shahrel Fikri Md Fauzi and Ahmad Hazwan Bakri and that gave Norshahrul more space in the Laos penalty box. The strategy clearly paid off as Malaysia completely dominated the game and launched several attacks. Defender Mohamad Aidil Zafuan Abd Radzak nearly put Malaysia ahead in the 67th minute but his header could only rattle the bar. Laos goalkeeper Outthilath Nammakhot then thwarted Muhammad Akhyar in the 70th minute. But there was nothing the Laos goalkeeper could do in the 86th minute when Norshahrul took advantage of a mix-up in the penalty box to score from close range. Norshahrul was not done yet, though, as he added the third just before the final whistle when he headed home a cross from Muhammad Akhyar.  Malaysia top Group A with six points, followed by Vietnam and Myanmar on three points each. The Harimau Malaya will travel to Hanoi to face Vietnam on Friday before welcoming Myanmar to the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Nov 24 to complete their group fixtures. (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA