DOHA, January 19 — Bahrain and Malaysia will clash in a do-or-die mission tomorrow in the group matches of the Asia Cup at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Bandar Al Rayyan here.
Both teams share the same desperate goal of snatching a win to improve their chances of making it to the last 16, although the pressure for this match-up has increased after they started the 2023 Asian Cup with losses. are doing.
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In the opening matches between the two teams in Group E, Bahrain lost 3-1 to two-time champions South Korea, while Malaysia lost 4-0 to Jordan.
If Malaysia, led by South Korean coach Kim Pang-gon, can secure three points tomorrow, Harimau Malaya national team will win the tournament for the first time in 44 years, after defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) 2-0 in the second match. It will be a victory. 1980 Kuwait edition.
Despite a disastrous start, Malaysia showed what a spirited performance can do, with seven wins, including against the world’s top-ranked teams, before the start of the tournament.
Malaysia last beat Bahrain in 1978, when the national team won 2-1, but then lost seven and drew three in 10 games.
The last time the two teams met was in June 2022 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, in the group stage of the 2023 Asian Cup Qualifiers, with Bahrain giving it their all until a narrow 2-1 victory. I tried my best.
This campaign saw Malaysia make history by advancing to the last 16 after failing to make it past the group stage in their previous three appearances (1976 Iran Games, 1980 Kuwait Games, and the 2007 Games they co-hosted). The aims.
Although they lost to South Korea, Bahrain, ranked 86th in the world, showed a fierce competition and still maintain the advantage of taking all three points against Pangong, who is ranked 130th.
Bahrain, coached by Juan Antonio Pizzi, will be hoping to revive their chances of repeating their previous success of reaching the last 16.
Both teams have made careful preparations, but injuries continue to occur.
Bahrain will be without midfielder Mohamed Al Hadan, while Malaysia may be without midfielders Mohd Afik Fazail and Endrik dos Santos.
Therefore, tomorrow’s match is expected to be a heated one.
Harimau Malaya, show us your true stripes. Or the end of days is approaching. — Bernama