PLAYED three, won three. No goals conceded and top of Group B.
But national Under-15 coach P. Maniam, whose team are on a roll in the AFF U-15 Youth Championship in Chonburi, Thailand, is not getting carried away.
Not even after watching his boys dispatch two-time champions Australia 3-0, courtesy of goals by Daniel Edzuan (penalty – third minute), Nabil Qayyum Zainuddin (28th) and Izrin Ibrahim (70th) on Thursday.
The young Harimau Malaya had earlier kicked off their campaign with an 8-0 thumping of Brunei on July 27 before seeing off Cambodia 2-0.
As proud as the former
Selangor player was of his boys, he was quick to remind them to focus on the two remaining group matches and qualify for the semi-finals.
“The boys played with good motivation and discipline.
“Our teamwork was crucial to us beating Australia, but it’s still too early to be happy.
“We have to continue playing like how we did against Australia,” he said.
“The boys deserved it because of their determination and fighting spirit.
“It’s still early and we need to focus on the next match.
“Whatever it is, we the coaching staff, are proud of them.”
Malaysia, the only team yet to concede a goal after three games, top Group B with nine points, ahead of hosts Thailand on goal difference.
Maniam’s side will meet three-time runners-up Laos today and three-time champions Thailand on Monday.
“It won’t be easy against Laos because they defend deep,” said Maniam, who hopes to help Malaysia regain the title they last won in 2013, when it was known as the AFF Under-16 Youth Championship.
Then, the national youth squad beat Indonesia 3-2 on penalties after both teams were tied 1-1 in regulation time in the final of the inaugural tournament in Myanmar.