GELORA BUNG KARNO SENAYAN 5-1 MASSACRE

MALAYSIA made one of the worst start in the AFF Suzuki 2010 campaign at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium last night. They were steamrolled by neighbour, Indonesia with a 5-1 mauling in front of full capacity crowd thus install them as the tournament `hot favourite' to win the title.

This is their biggest win so far in their last four previous meeting with the Indonesian who rank 130 in the FIFA ranking now are ahead winning 3 while the Malaysian rank 150, with just a win to show which was last recorded in the same venue a famous 1-0 victory in the first leg AFF Suzuki 2006.

The Indonesian under Austrian coach, Alfred Reidl who was brought in by the Indonesia Football Association (AFI} after his feat in guiding the Vietnamese winning the AFF Suzuki Cup 2008 title for the very first time in Singapore looks heading the right direction.

His non nonsense attitude and tough strict discipline method brought some headlines when he dropped a bombshell by not including the current Indonesian Super League top marksman with 10 goals, Boaz Soloassa for reporting late during a training camp in Palembang.

His disciplinary action did cause some concern but IFA stood by their coach. With the inclusion of two foreigners 34-year-old Uruguayan, Cristian Gonzales and Irfan Bachdeim 22-year-old Netherlands born whose father is an Indonesian as both were granted with an Indonesian nationality.

Reidl job were made much easier with both were instrumental for their huge win last night, creating a good partnership upfront scoring goal a piece. With the much younger Netherlands working tirelessly and was always bound to be behind everytime they launch forward. 

For the Malaysian coach, K.Rajagopal and thousand of fans watching on their TV sets certainly it was hard to swallowed to taste such huge defeat. The national side ticket into the semi-final made to looks much harder with the prospect of facing three time champions Thailand in their next match. Both teams badly need a win. A miracle by the Malaysian and a win against Laos in their last match could turn the table.

Right from the kick-off the Malaysian looks very nervy. Early in the second minute they should have been punished for a sloppy defending allowing Cristian Gonzales nickname `El-Loco' by the local fans but thanks to goalkeeper Sharbini Alwee who deny the striker his first goal on his first home debut.

That's certainly looks like a wake-up call for the Malaysian as they began to get their act together stringing their passes well. It seems the Guangzhou debacle seems to put far away as Norshahrul Idlan Talha, Sali Safie, Amirulhadi and S. Kunanlan starts to looks very promising as they began to gain more possession.

With Shafiq Rahim and Amri Yahyah combines well in the midfield. The defence looks very solid holding their ground well with Muslim Ahmad stood out keeping the Gonzales-Irfan at bay. Only for Sharbini occasionally looks a bit rusty for lacking match practice after coming back from injury keeping in goal over Kelantan's Khairul Fahmi as the country number one keeper.

Negri Sembilan's Kunanlan first of having a go at the Indonesian goal that nearly brought cheers to the Malaysian's bench early as in the 8th minute. The speedy striker cuts in from the right evaded two defenders before picking up his spot to drill in a shot  just a little bit wide of target.

Followed by Norshahrul Idlan Talha turns but his shot was blocked by an Indonesian defender in the box. The Indonesian struggles to get their midfield act together as they push forward. They paid heavy price when the Malaysian launch a quick counter attack in the 18th minute.

Selangor's Safie Saliee with acre of space sprint through the right and cleverly slip the ball through a defender leg. He race into the box and laid it perfectly for the unmarked Norshahrul who lifted the ball before unleashing a unstoppable volley into the net.

From then on it looks so well for the Malaysian side stroking their passes well and everything looks rosy. But it was all over in just six minutes, when disaster struck as the Indonesian drew level with a gifted goal by defender Asruddin Putra whom earlier looks quite promising at the left back.

Indonesian left back, Octavianus Maniani the smallest man in the field goes flying  past Razman Ruslan on the left. Muslim Ahmad then unnecessarily lunge in a tackle far out of the box miss it completely. The defender went at the by line cut in a harmless looking cross into the box. Irfan Bachdein dummies struck Asruddin knee before deflecting  into his own net.

El-Loco scored Indon 2nd goal

From then on with the vociferous crowd backing the home side the red and white took control of the match. Within a matter of time they were infront through El-Loco. The Uruguay seized the ball and work his way into the box. He dance his way past Muslim Ahmad before striking with his left foot past Sharbini in the 34th minute. 

In the second-half, the Malaysian did work very hard to be back into the game. Norsharul Idlan and Safie Saliee nearly came close a few times but again they were let down by their defence for  sloppy defending as they went down further in the 52nd minute through defender Mohd Ridwan.

Rajagopal made a double substitution by taking out Razman and Amri Yahyah bringing in Amar Rohidan and Ashaari but the change was too late to have any impact towards the match as the home side continued to add more misery through substitute Arif Suyono to make it 4-1.

The hard working Irfan Bachdein then capped a remarkable performance with the final goal of the night which brought huge applause from the crowd.