KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore thrashed defending champions Malaysia 3-0 on Sunday to start the ASEAN Football Championship, the Suzuki Cup, much to the disappointment of Malaysian fans. “This was a horrible match and it shows we are not a very good team,” one fan told Bikyamasr.com after the match. Singapore's Captain Shahril Ishak scored two first-half goals and veteran striker Aleksandar Duric came on as a substitute to get the third goal, becoming the oldest player, 42, to score in the tournament. Shaiful Esah created the opening goal in the 33rd minute when his pass found Shahril who toe poked the ball into the top corner. Five minutes later, Shahril made it two. A Shahdan Sulaiman free kick was palmed away by Malaysian goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi and Shahril was in the right place to head in his second goal to make it 2-0. Duric, who came on as a second-half substitute for Shahril in the 73rd minute, got the third goal after being on the pitch for just two minutes when he connected with a cross from the left wing by Shahdan. “It was a good start for us in the AFF Suzuki Cup. The players did a great job. They concentrated really hard at the task at hand and were very disciplined in the game. The team put in a lot of effort to get this result and this win is down to all their hard work," said Singapore head coach Raddy Avramovic. “It was really great to get the goals today as it was my first goals against Malaysia. But this was a team effort. Everyone did their job and it showed in the result. We hope to carry on this form against Indonesia in the next game," said Shahril. Malaysia coach K. Rajagobal felt that his players were sloppy in conceding the goals. “I didn't expect that scoreline. I thought that we began positively but gave away a pair of sloppy goals," he said. “We played with desire in the second half half and put them under all the pressure but the goal didn't come and although we showed energy and determination, we gave away another mistake for the third goal. “We have to do it the hard way again and we have no choice but to win our next two games. “It was disappointing and frustrating but I still have confidence although we will have to struggle to try to make it," added Rajagobal.
