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THE QUALIFIERS FOR AFC U-23 CHAMPIONSHIP 2020 IN THAILAND
Malaysia was not one of the FOUR best placed second teams in the qualifiers.
Young Tigers made to wait for spot in AFC U-23 championship after being held by China
FOOTBALL
Tuesday, 26 Mar 201910:50 PM MYT
by t. avineshwaran
Malaysia’s Dhinesh Rajasingam (right) tries to get the ball from China’s Lin Liangmong (left) during the match.
SHAH ALAM: Malaysia's Young Tigers will have to wait and see if they have booked a spot in AFC U-23 Championship 2020 in Thailand after being held by China 2-2.
Malaysia’s goals were scored by Danial Haqim Draman (54th) and an own goal by Zhu Chenjie (10th), while China’s goals were scored by Zhang Yuning (18th) and Jiang Shenglong (83rd), in what proved to be a pulsating Group J AFC U-23 Championship qualifying match at the Shah Alam Stadium Tuesday (March 26).
The draw leaves Malaysia in second as they finished with seven points from three matches and will now have to wait to see if they are one of the FOUR best placed second teams in the qualifiers.
China also finished on seven points but their better goal difference saw them top the group and qualify for the tournament in Thailand.
In the first half, Malaysia drew first blood in the 10th minute when Syahmi Safari brilliantly beat two Chinese defenders and unleashed a cross that was deflected into the goal by China’s defender Zhu Chenjie.
Eight minutes later, China equalised through Yuning, who benefited from Malaysia’s ball-watching defence, by heading a sumptuous cross from the left.
That goal certainly woke Malaysia up as they conjured up brilliant moves and pressured China throughout the half.
After the break, Harimau Malaya continued their upward momentum and constantly pressured China’s defence through the attacking triumvirate of Safawi Rasid, Akhyar Rashid and Hadi Fayyadh.
In the 54th minute, Malaysia deservedly got a second goal through Danial, who capitalised on a spill made by China’s goalkeeper Chen Wei.
After that goal, Malaysia relied on quick counters while China used their aerial strength by unleashing crosses.
That move paid off when Jiang Shenglong equalised again for China in the 83rd minute, when his header beat Malaysian goalkeeper Haziq Nadzli.
Read more at https://ift.tt/2JHogHp
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