IZZAQ Faris Ramlan was supposed to be a mere passenger in the Malaysian team for the men's football competition.
But the 20-year-old striker from the Harimau Muda A (national Under-21) squad ended up playing the biggest match of his career against fancied Japan at the Huadu Stadium on Wednesday.
The towering Izzaq, who stands at 1.84m, is one of the four strikers listed by coach K. Rajagopal in his depleted 20-man squad.
Izzaq made the cut as a last-minute replacement for the injured Mohd Zaquan Adha Abdul Razak.
"I did not expect to start in Guangzhou at all but here I am in the thick of the action," said Izzaq after featuring in his first full international match with the national Under-23 squad.
Izzaq was one of nine players roped in from coach Ong Kim Swee's Harimau Muda A training squad, who returned from a stint in Slovakia last month.
He was the fourth-choice striker for the Asiad, behind Norsharul Idlan Talaha, Ahmad Fakri Saarani and S. Chanturu.
But Izzaq had to be fielded against Japan after Ahmad Fakri and Chanturu picked up injuries in the opening match against Kyrgyzstan on Monday.
Against Kyrgyzstan, Izzaq came on as a late substitute for Chanturu, with seven minutes left on the clock. Chanturu scored the winner in the 2-1 victory over Kyrgyzstan.
"I was nervous but I am glad that I got 90 minutes of action time," said Izzaq after Malaysia lost 0-2 to Japan.
"This is a great experience for me and I feel more confident now.
"If I get the chance to start again, I will give a better account of myself and will not let the country down."
Izzaq said that the stint in Slovakia had toughened him up and he was ready for more challenges.
"Playing against the top club sides in Slovakia helped me a lot. It is not exactly a new experience for me in Guangzhou as I knew what to expect from the aggressive Japanese players," he said.
Izzaq would have put his name on the scoresheet against the No. 2 ranked Asian side if he had only scored from point blank range after receiving a cross from skipper Safiq Rahim in first-half stoppage time, with Japan leading 1-0.
"It was my best chance to score but I did not get a clean header. I am wiser from the experience gained in playing the match," said Izzaq.
Now, with Ahmad Fakri ruled out from the competition with a serious knee injury and Chanturu racing against time to recover from an ankle injury, Rajagopal may again opt to field Izzaq in the crucial final Group A match against China tomorrow.
Favourites Japan, with six points from two straight wins, are set to top the group as their last match will be against winless Kyrgyzstan.
Malaysia are tied with China on three points but Rajagopal's boys have a better goal difference. A draw will ensure their place in the round of 16 as the group runners-up.
Star
But the 20-year-old striker from the Harimau Muda A (national Under-21) squad ended up playing the biggest match of his career against fancied Japan at the Huadu Stadium on Wednesday.
The towering Izzaq, who stands at 1.84m, is one of the four strikers listed by coach K. Rajagopal in his depleted 20-man squad.
Izzaq made the cut as a last-minute replacement for the injured Mohd Zaquan Adha Abdul Razak.
"I did not expect to start in Guangzhou at all but here I am in the thick of the action," said Izzaq after featuring in his first full international match with the national Under-23 squad.
He was the fourth-choice striker for the Asiad, behind Norsharul Idlan Talaha, Ahmad Fakri Saarani and S. Chanturu.
But Izzaq had to be fielded against Japan after Ahmad Fakri and Chanturu picked up injuries in the opening match against Kyrgyzstan on Monday.
Against Kyrgyzstan, Izzaq came on as a late substitute for Chanturu, with seven minutes left on the clock. Chanturu scored the winner in the 2-1 victory over Kyrgyzstan.
"I was nervous but I am glad that I got 90 minutes of action time," said Izzaq after Malaysia lost 0-2 to Japan.
"This is a great experience for me and I feel more confident now.
"If I get the chance to start again, I will give a better account of myself and will not let the country down."
Izzaq said that the stint in Slovakia had toughened him up and he was ready for more challenges.
"Playing against the top club sides in Slovakia helped me a lot. It is not exactly a new experience for me in Guangzhou as I knew what to expect from the aggressive Japanese players," he said.
Izzaq would have put his name on the scoresheet against the No. 2 ranked Asian side if he had only scored from point blank range after receiving a cross from skipper Safiq Rahim in first-half stoppage time, with Japan leading 1-0.
"It was my best chance to score but I did not get a clean header. I am wiser from the experience gained in playing the match," said Izzaq.
Now, with Ahmad Fakri ruled out from the competition with a serious knee injury and Chanturu racing against time to recover from an ankle injury, Rajagopal may again opt to field Izzaq in the crucial final Group A match against China tomorrow.
Favourites Japan, with six points from two straight wins, are set to top the group as their last match will be against winless Kyrgyzstan.
Malaysia are tied with China on three points but Rajagopal's boys have a better goal difference. A draw will ensure their place in the round of 16 as the group runners-up.
Star
No comments:
Post a Comment