KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 — Two first half goals were enough for Papua New Guinea to beat Malaysia 2-0 in a Class A international friendly match at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby today.
Malaysia who dominated the game in the first 20 minutes were punished when striker Tommy Semmy scored a brace in the 35th and 42nd minute of the first leg of the Oceania Tour.
After the break, national head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee made five changes in an attempt to find the net.
In came S. Kunanlan, Fazly Mazlan, Amirulhadi Zainal, Amirul Hisham Amir Awang Kechik and S. Chanthuru.
Out went Azrif Nasrulhaq Badrul Hisham, Khair Jefri Jones, Brendan Gan, Abdul Latiff Suhaimi and Ahmad Fakri Saarani.
After failing to score until the 62nd minute, Kim Swee once again decided to make a change and replaced Mahali Jasuli with D. Christie Jayaseelan.
Meanwhile, Kim Swee warned several players who failed to show their commitment to improve if they want to remain as members of the national squad.
"I hope this disappointing result serve as a lesson. After beating Timor Leste easily, several players took our opponents lightly.
"Papua New Guinea showed improvement and played well. They did not give us the space by pressing from the start," he told the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
Malaysia will play New Caledonia in Noumea on June 22 and Fiji in Nadi on June 26, before returning home. — Bernama
