KUALA LUMPUR: National coach Kim Pan Gon promised a Harimau Malaya with a new roar, and it ended with a resounding 4-0 win over Brunei in an international friendly at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, today.
Brunei, ranked world no 191, were no threat to world no 154 Malaysia.
While Malaysia were hoping for a practice match, little Brunei weren't much of a fight.
The Bruneians were still rusty as they haven't had a competitive match or training for about a year due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Korean Pan Gon used the match to test different formations and the first half saw Mohamadou Sumareh and Syafiq Ahmad working together up front.
Malaysia took 13 shots at goal in the first half but converted only two.
Syafiq Ahmad opened the scoring in the 16th minute with an assist from V. Ruventhiran from a corner. The second goal came in the 45th minute through midfielder Syamer Kutty Abba.
Pan Gon made five substitutions with Guilherme De Paula, Liridon Krasniqi, Nazmi Faiz Mansor, Dominic Tan and Safawi Rasid coming in for Syafiq, Safiq Rahim, Syamer, Dion Cools and Sumareh.
Malaysia recorded their third goal through Faisal Halim in the 58th minute who was fed the ball by naturalised player De Paula.
Malaysia got their fourth goal in the 81st minute when Brunei defender Amirul Hakeem Kasim conceded a penalty after fouling Akhyar Rashid. And De Paula converted the spot kick.
Harimau Malaya can expect a tougher time against Pan Gon's former team, Hong Kong, on Wednesday in their next international friendly.