Harimau issue statement after 3-0 loss to Cape Verde
KUALA LUMPUR: It was a closed door match and an eye-opener for the national football team.
Malaysia lost 3-0 to Cape Verde at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday, and the game did little to bolster the team's confidence for the Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam.
On target for Cape Verde were Dailon Livramento who scored in the 35th and 48th minutes and Heriberto Tavares in the 55th. On May 29, world No. 131 Malaysia drew 1-1 with word No. 72 Cape Verde at the KLFA Stadium.
Harimau Malaya said in a statement that the friendlies against the West African nation were to gear up for the match against Vietnam at Bukit Jalil on June 10.
"With several players having gone nearly six weeks without competitive football, this training match served a key purpose in providing valuable minutes across the entire squad to focus on match sharpness, conditioning, and improve physical intensity," read the statement.
"The match was played in three 30-minute periods to ensure all players saw action — an important part of the national team's build-up to June 10."
National coach Peter Cklamovski has called up five overseas-based heritage players — Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Jon Irazabal and Joao Figueiredo — to join the centralised training.
The new faces are expected to boost the team for the must-win match against bitter rivals Vietnam.
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