Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Johor Bahru: Coach Ong Kim Swee believes patience is key as Malaysia prepare to take on Timor-Leste in the first leg of their 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifier at Stadium Tan Sri Dato Hj Hassan Yunos on Thursday.
It will be the third time Malaysia and Timorese have faced off in less than a year after the sides finished fourth and fifth respectively in Group A in the previous round of qualifiers.
But, despite having the advantage of playing both legs on home soil, Malaysia failed to register a victory in front of their own fans during their Group A campaign and are currently on a winless home run that stretches all the way back to 2014.
“We cannot be in a hurry to score an early goal and put ourselves under pressure,” said Ong (pictured second from left), who will be without injured captain Safiq Rahim of AFC Cup holders Johor Darul Ta’zim.
“We have to exercise patience and follow the instructions. If we can play according to the plan, we are confident of getting goals.”
The 2015 AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) Championship runners-up picked up four points from two games against Timor-Leste in the previous round of qualifiers, but also suffered heavy defeats to the United Arab Emirates and Palestine.
And Ong’s side go into the clash on the back of successive goalless draws in friendlies with Macau and Myanmar that means they have yet to register a goal in 2016.
“In the last two games, even though we didn’t score, we didn’t concede either,” added Ong.
“The goalless draws were minor hiccups and, as long as we improve our finishing, we can get a good result against Timor-Leste.”
Opponents Timor-Leste, meanwhile, chalked up just two points from eight Group A games, but picked up creditable draws with Malaysia and Palestine, as well as making 2019 AFC Asian Cup hosts the United Arab Emirates work hard for a 1-0 win along the way.
Timor-Leste lost 2-0 to Cambodia in a friendly in Phnom Penh on Sunday and also suffered heavy defeats to the Emiratis, Saudi Arabia and Palestine in their previous three qualifying games in the last round.
But after a stoppage-time Ramon De Lima Saro goal ensured a 1-1 draw the last time the sides met in Malaysia, coach Fabio Maciel will be hopeful his team can upset the odds once more ahead of the second leg next Tuesday.
“I was present when we drew 1-1 against Malaysia, so we are confident we can make a good game against them tomorrow,” said Brazilian Maciel.
“We started well in the qualifiers, but faded away. After our 1-0 loss to Malaysia in Dili, we dropped our naturalised players so that the younger players had the chance to gain exposure and experience.
“I don’t believe the absence of Safiq Rahim will affect Malaysia. When we prepare to face our opponents it’s not just one or two players we pay attention to, it’s the entire team.”