AFF WOMEN’S: Malaysia Fall To Late Penalty

HO CHI MINH CITY (16 Sept 2012) – A late penalty ten minutes to the end denied a battling Malaysia a place in the semi-finals of the AFF Women’s Championship when they fell to a 3-2 loss to Laos in their second game in Group B.

The Malaysians, who fell to a 4-0 loss to Thailand in their first game in the group, were a lot more organised this time round against a Laotian side that have had four days of rest since the start of the competition.

But unfortunately for the Malaysians, goalkeeper Dhiya Razali was a bundle of nerves when as early as the fifth minute, her mistake costs her team to fall behind. Off a cross from the middle of the park, Keota Phongoudom raced ahead to flick the ball over the onrushing Dhiya, who should have stayed her line.

In the 18^th minute, Laos doubled their lead when off a cross from the right, Souphavanh Phayvanh headed the ball towards goal which Dhiya fumbled altogether.

Under pressure, the Malaysians pushed forward and in the 39^th minute they finally got the goal they were looking for when Masturah Majid blasted in a dipping shot that beat Laos custodian Hongthong Choulapanh.

With the score at 2-1, the pouring rain at the start of the second half affected play somewhat as the ball often got stuck in the fast developing puddles. As the game wore on and the tackles coming in fast and furious, the Malaysian girls grabbed the equaliser when off an Eslilah Esar’s free kick in the 79^th minute, the waiting Zaryatie Zakaria blasted the ball into the net.

However, the game is far from over. Just a minute later, Laos would earn a penalty when referee Cong Thi Dung from Vietnam awarded Laos a penalty. And Suchitta Phonharath did not disappoint from the spot.

With the loss, the Malaysians girls are out of the competition while Laos will have to wait for their game against Thailand to see if they can win Group B.

 

AFF WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP 2012

(All matches at Thong Nhat Stadium)

GROUP A: Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapore, Philippines

GROUP B: Thailand, Laos, Malaysia