Harimau Malaya battle to 1-1 draw against Cape Verde
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia showcased resilience and determination, holding world No. 72 Cape Verde to a 1-1 draw in a Tier 1 international football friendly at the KLFA Stadium in Cheras last night.
Substitute striker Paulo Josue equalised in the 79th minute, salvaging Harimau Malaya's honour in front of home fans, after defender Sidny Lopes Cabral had put Cape Verde ahead early in the first half.
In their first competitive meeting, coach Peter Cklamovski underscored the importance of local talent, fielding seven homegrown players in the starting XI, while newly naturalised player Gabriel Palmero made his Malaysia debut.
Malaysia, ranked 131st in the world, had an early warning shot, as Palmero's long-range effort struck the post in the seventh minute. However, Cape Verde took the lead a minute later, with Cabral beating Daniel Ting before firing a powerful shot past goalkeeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi Mohamed.
Cape Verde then dominated possession, launching a series of attacks, forcing Malaysia's defensive duo—captain Matthew Davies and Ahmad Syihan—to work tirelessly.
On resumption, Malaysia nearly equalised in the 61st minute, but goalkeeper Josimar Dias cleared Faisal's powerful shot, with Muhammad Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili unable to convert the rebound.
Minutes later, Arif Aiman narrowly missed scoring, as his one-on-one attempt struck Dias' foot in the 69th minute.
Malaysia finally broke through in the 79th minute, as Josue calmly finished off a pass from Quentin Cheng to level the score. The striker had another golden chance in the 86th minute, but his close-range shot was blocked by the alert Dias.
Harimau Malaya will face Cape Verde again in a closed-door friendly at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on June 3.
These matches serve as preparation for Malaysia's crucial 2027 Asian Cup Qualifier against Vietnam on June 10 at Bukit Jalil National Stadium. Malaysia and Vietnam currently lead Group F with three points each after a match played.– BERNAMA
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