MALAYSIA TAKE ON VIETNAM IN MERDEKA TOURNEY FINAL

In front of more than 10,000 screaming fans, the Malaysian side started strongly with midfielder Indra Putra Mahayuddin testing Myanmar keeper
Nyi Nyi Lwin with a low shot from the right which was blocked while striker Safee Sali failed to make it count with the rebound.

Myanmar replied by upping the tempo where in the tenth minute, a cross off Pai Soe from the right beat the Malaysian defence but striker Soe Myat Min could not find the right finish.

The hosts then took control of the midfield and created several chances on a trot with Amirulhadi Zainal coming even closer with a rifling shot from left.

That failure pushed the Malaysian frontline led by Safee dan Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak to work harder and in the 26th minute, Malaysia went in front off a superbly-taken freekick from Indra.

The score at the break was 1-0 in favour of the Malaysians.

Both teams were more determined coming into the second half but it was to be Malaysia who carved out their second goal of the evening when Safee made good on a long cross from Hardi Jaafar with a stiff grounder after dribbling past two defenders.

Malaysia continued to dominate and their disciplined provided them with the third goal – this time off a penalty in the 76th minute off Indra.

Seven minutes to the end, Amirulhadi gave Malaysia their fourth goal following a short pass from Indra inside the box.

In the meantime, Vietnam beat Sierra Leone 3-2 in a penalty shootout following following a 2-2 deadlock at the end of extra-time.