Arif Aiman Double Fires Harimau Malaya to 3-0 Win Over Bangladesh in FIFA ASEAN Cup Opener
Arif Aiman scored twice and debutant Bergson added a third as Malaysia beat Bangladesh 3-0 in Jakarta to top Group A on goal difference.
Harimau Malaya made a confident start to the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup on Friday, 25 September, beating Bangladesh 3-0 at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. Winger Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi struck twice in the first half and Bergson da Silva added a third after the break on his international debut.
The win puts Malaysia level on three points with hosts Indonesia at the top of Division 1 Group A, with Tan Cheng Hoe's side ahead on goal difference after the opening round.
How the goals came
Malaysia controlled the contest from early on, and the breakthrough arrived in the 18th minute through Arif Aiman. The Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) winger doubled the lead in the 37th minute, sending Malaysia into half-time with a two-goal cushion.
Seven minutes after the restart, Bergson made it 3-0 in the 52nd minute. Bangladesh's own Daily Star newspaper noted that Thomas Dooley's side "struggled to create any meaningful chances" against a Malaysian team that kept the ball well throughout.
- 18' – Arif Aiman (1-0)
- 37' – Arif Aiman (2-0)
- 52' – Bergson da Silva (3-0)
Three JDT debutants
One of the big talking points before kick-off was the inclusion of three JDT players who were cleared to represent Malaysia only a week before the tournament. Bergson, Manuel Hidalgo and Brad Tapp all started and made their national-team debuts, and Bergson marked the occasion with a goal.
For Malaysian fans, the performance offered an early look at how the new-look squad can fit together under interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe, who is guiding the team through this tournament.
Cheng Hoe happy but wants more
Speaking after the match, Cheng Hoe said he was pleased with the display. "I am very happy with the way we played, kept the ball and scored the goals," he said, as reported by Media Selangor.
He was also honest about the work still to do with a squad that is still building its cohesion. "There are certain areas the team needs to improve, especially in transition, because sometimes we lose the ball too easily," he added. The coach also pointed to the physical demands of the 4pm local kick-off in Jakarta.
Group A picture
The Division 1 Group A line-up features Malaysia, Bangladesh, hosts Indonesia and Singapore. Indonesia also opened with a win on Friday, beating Singapore 2-0 at the same stadium, which sets up a meeting of the two unbeaten sides.
Group A after Matchday 1:
- Malaysia – 3 pts (GD +3)
- Indonesia – 3 pts (GD +2)
- Singapore – 0 pts
- Bangladesh – 0 pts
What's next for Malaysia
- Monday, 28 September: Indonesia vs Malaysia – Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta
- Thursday, 1 October: Malaysia vs Singapore – Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, Bandung
Bangladesh face Singapore on 28 September in Jakarta as both sides look for their first points.
Key takeaways
- Malaysia beat Bangladesh 3-0 in their FIFA ASEAN Cup opener at GBK Stadium, Jakarta.
- Arif Aiman scored in the 18th and 37th minutes; Bergson da Silva added the third in the 52nd minute.
- JDT trio Bergson, Manuel Hidalgo and Brad Tapp all made their Malaysia debuts.
- Tan Cheng Hoe was pleased but wants better ball retention in transition.
- Malaysia top Group A on goal difference ahead of Monday's clash with Indonesia.
FAQ
Who scored Malaysia's goals against Bangladesh? Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi scored twice (18' and 37') and Bergson da Silva scored once (52') on his debut.
Who does Malaysia play next at the FIFA ASEAN Cup? Malaysia face hosts Indonesia on Monday, 28 September at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, then Singapore on 1 October in Bandung.
Who is coaching Malaysia at the tournament? Tan Cheng Hoe is in charge as interim head coach.
Sources: theSun, Malay Mail, Media Selangor, The Daily Star (Bangladesh), FIFA