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AFF Suzuki Cup: Safawi Rasid answers critics with hat-trick in 4-0 Malaysia win

Malaysia's hat-trick hero Safawi Rasid (left) celebrates with his teammate after scoring during their AFF Suzuki Cup match against Laos. (PHOTO: AFF Suzuki Cup)
Malaysia's hat-trick hero Safawi Rasid (left) celebrates with his teammate after scoring during their AFF Suzuki Cup match against Laos. (PHOTO: AFF Suzuki Cup)

SINGAPORE — He had big question marks on his form heading into the AFF Suzuki Cup, but Malaysia's Safawi Rasid answered his critics emphatically with a hat-trick in their 4-0 rout of Laos at Bishan Stadium on Thursday (9 December).

Coupled with an earlier goal from the penalty spot against Cambodia in their opening match on Monday, and the Johor Darul Ta'zim forward has climbed to the top of the scorers' chart for the tournament, ahead of Singapore's Ikhsan Fandi (two goals).

Safawi, 24, had seen his goals and assists dry up this year as he struggled mightily to regain his imperious form before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Malaysia coach Tan Cheng Hoe kept faith in his key man, and Safawi has repaid it with goals that put the Tigers in prime position to advance to the semi-finals from Group B.

Tan made several changes from the side that defeated Cambodia 3-0 on Monday, notably dropping midfielder Junior Eldstal as well as forwards Akhyar Rashid and Guilherme de Paula.

Despite the changes, Malaysia swept into the lead within the opening 10 minutes following a glaring defensive lapse by Anantaza Siphonphan. His dallying on the ball allowed winger Arif Aiman to nip in and rob him of the ball near the centre circle.

Arif surged past the flat-footed Laos defence line and had all the time in the world to pick out an onrushing Safawi, who swept the ball home with ease.

Laos, who were coached by Singaporean V. Selvaraj, were decent when going forward, but were far too naive in defence to cope with the fast-breaking Malaysians, who duly extended their lead in 34th minute.

A corner from the left flank sailed across the seas of bodies in the middle of the Laos penalty area, and found Safawi lurking at the far post, and he made no mistake with his towering header.

Two goals up, and Malaysia took the foot off the medal in the second half, although substitute Sharel Fikri was guilty of missing a succession of opportunities after being brought on in the 66th minute.

Eventually, they found their third goal from an unlikely source - defender Shahrul Saad, who poured forward in the 78th minute and accepted a pin-point through pass from midfielder Baddrol Bakhtiar to sweep the ball home.

Two minutes later, Safawi finally completed his hat-trick, bursting through from a superb cross by Kogileswaran Raj and fending off his defender to slam home his third goal of the night.

He was immediately substituted by de Paula, and accepted the cheers from the Malaysian fans by showing them three fingers symbolising the hat-trick that silenced his detractors.

Indonesia opened their Group B campaign in style with a 4-2 win over Cambodia in the late kick-off at Bishan Stadium on Thursday. Rachmat Irianto (4th and 33rd minutes), Evan Dimas (17th) and Ramai Rumakiek (54th) scored for the five-time runners-up, while Yue Safy (37th) and Prak Mony Udom (60th) replied for Cambodia.