Kuala Lumpur: Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia will not make the mistake of underestimating Timor-Leste when the two Southeast Asian nations square off in the first leg of their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round 1 tie on Friday.
Malaysia are, at 168, the highest ranked team in the first round of the Asian Qualifiers while Timor-Leste are 195.
Malaysia head coach Tan Cheng Hoe, however, has warned his players against complacency.
“I want my players to be 100 per cent focused and not underestimate our opponents’ ability. This is an important match because the team’s mission is to make it to the next qualifying round," said Tan.
Timor-Leste may not be highly ranked but Tan knows from experience how difficult their Southeast Asian rivals can be.
However, he is confident that if Malaysia display the form they did in Sunday's 2-0 win over Nepal in a friendly, victory will be achieved.
Tier 1 International Match I Sunday, 2nd June 2019
Full Time
MALAYSIA 2-0 NEPAL
Safawi Rasid 51' (P) Shahrul Saad 82'#FAM #HarimauMalaya pic.twitter.com/Zo0aLIji2B— FA Malaysia (@FAM_Malaysia) June 2, 2019
“The players have a pretty good understanding among them and, if they can maintain the momentum from the Nepal win, I think we can win (against Timor-Leste).”
Malaysia v Timor-Leste
Venue: National Stadium, Bukit Jalil
Kick-off: June 7, 20:45 (UTC +8)
Note: Timor-Leste are ineligible to participate in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, after the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee expelled the Federacao Futebol Timor-Leste from the tournament in January 20, 2017, for fielding ineligible players. Their participation is for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 only.
Source: the-afc.com