Southeast Asia Malaysia

Malaysia U-22 Edge Out Hong Kong U-22 to Clinch Merlion Cup

Malaysia U-22 have won the 2023 Merlion Cup after beating Hong Kong U-22 in Sunday’s final at Singapore’s Jalan Besar Stadium.

The Merlion Cup is an invitational tournament hosted by Singapore featuring different football teams in each of its iteration. For this year, four U-22 teams took part in the tournament – hosts Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Hong Kong, with the first three utilizing the tournament as part of their preparations for this year’s SEA Games that will be held in Cambodia.

Malaysia had booked their spot in the final thanks to a 4-2 win over Cambodia in Friday’s semifinal, while Hong Kong beat hosts Singapore 1-0 to confirm their spot in the showpiece match.

After a goalless first half, the deadlock was finally broken in the 74th minute after Malaysia’s Najmudin Akmal managed to land a bullet of a header into Ng Wai Him’s goal.

Malaysia then doubled their lead five minutes later, with Wai Him being forced to pick the ball out of the net once again following Safwan Mazlan’s superb strike.

Hong Kong did pull one back through Lau Ka Kiu in the 80th minute following a fatal mistake from Malaysia goalkeeper Rahadiazli Rahalim, however the HK U23 man’s goal would amount to nothing more but mere consolation.

Both Malaysia and Hong Kong ended the match with 10 men each, following red cards for Malaysia’s Haqimi Rosli and Hong Kong’s Maddox Kong.

Earlier on Sunday, Cambodia edged out Singapore 2-1 to finish third in this year’s Merlion Cup thanks to goals from Voeun Va and Ky Rina.