So..
Did not think twice about going, more like whom to go with! Decided that this was to be a boys night out for me and my son - Din. He thinks football is better watched than played, and is currently begging me to get him a snooker table - Go figure..
Anyway, the highway to the 90,000 seater Bukit Jalil Stadium was so congested!
So, here we are at the majestic stadium, about 20 mins from Kuala Lumpur (on a good day).
The turnout was great, the seats were about 98% taken and everyone was clad in either the colors of the Merseysiders or the Malaysian national team.
You football fans out there might notice that my son wears a Barca kit! That's because he thinks he's Messi. I for one agree, especially when he's having his spaghetti (messy - geddit?). To anyone who wants to send my son an LFC kit to make him think he's Suarez, you guys can go on right ahead..
Time to rotate the SS bezel on my EcoDrive so that I can keep track of the match duration better!
Back to the game.. Well, it started really cagey with both teams not wanting to be too adventurous. That all changed after Liverpool got a penalty halfway in the first half, and was duly converted by newbie Charlie Adams on his second try after the first attempt was disallowed due to encroachment into the penalty area.
The Reds then clicked into gear and created a few more chances after that. Noticing the danger, the Malaysian coach, Datuk (honorific, eqv. to knighthood 'Sir') K. Rajagobal sent in Izzaq Faris to beef-up the attack with pacy winger S. Kunalan and midfield maestro Safiq Rahim.
The trio earned Malaysia a freekick just outside the box and I think every 'Harimau Malaya' fan knew what was about to happen.
Brad Jones did not have a chance. That's Safiq's 4th goal in 3 matches. What a lovely right foot the boy has!!
That goal woke up the Tigers and it was really good stuff from then on.
However, halftime had to come and spoil the fun, and my kid's reaction showed what he thought of LFC's performance.. Hahaha..
Now, in the first half, LFC fielded what was realistically their 2nd stringers. However, the next 45 minutes saw the big guns entering the frame. Kuyt, Maxi and Ngog all was substituted in and that paid dividends in attack. Malaysia was down 1-4 by the 76th minute thanks to the trio's exploits but Malaysia had an ace in their sleeves as well in the form of AFF Cup topscorer Safee Sali who joined the fray in the 77th minute.
This self-confessed Man U fan had something to prove and did so with aplomb with two quick and well taken goals in the 79th and 80th minutes!
The game was really open by now and with everyone on the pitch throwing their defensive tactics out the window!
Naivete was the Tiger's nemesis however and a couple of goals from Maxi and Kuyt sealed the deal.
Final score: Malaysia 3, Liverpool FC 6.
I am so looking forward to the start of the new EPL season!
