By DEVINDER SINGH | devinder@nst.com.my
NATIONAL coach K. Rajagobal is fast running out of options as more injuries struck the national team in a 3-1 defeat to United Arab Emirates in Shenzhen, China on Wednesday.
Rajagobal was already forced to field a weakened side without up to eight key players for the friendly match in preparation for a crucial Asian Cup qualifier against Bahrain in Shah Alam on Tuesday.
The latest to join the list of the walking wounded was Pahang defender Razman Roslan, who in the absence of Darul Takzim centre-back Aidil Zafuan Razak and Young Tigers A's Fadhli Shas, would probably have started against Bahrain.
Among the defenders on the stand-by list are Kelantan's Farisham Ismail and Sarawak's Hairol Mokhtar while Rajagobal will also be hoping Helmi Remeli of PKNS recovers quickly from a fever.
"Razman is out with a thigh injury and he is a player, if he is available, who would have played against Bahrain. But now we have lost him also," Rajagobal told Astro Arena yesterday before the team's flight home.
For the match against UAE, strikers Safee Sali and Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, midfielder Shakir Shaari and wingers Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor were also sidelined through injury.
Ahmed Khalil gave UAE a two-goal lead before Mahalli Jasuli conceded a penalty for Ali Mabkhout to make it 3-0 at half-time while captain Safiq Rahim scored a consolation for Malaysia in the second half.
"We know UAE are a good team, one of the best from the Middle East after winning the Gulf Cup," said Rajagobal. "They also beat New Zealand recently before meeting us.
"Overall, I've seen a few positive signs even without several key players. That is a good sign for the next match."
Team manager Datuk Subahan Kamal said the players gave a better performance in the second half than the first 45 minutes.
"We conceded three goals in the first half but the third should not have gone in because it came from a penalty which Mahalli gave away," said Subahan.
"But the players learnt from their mistakes and did not allow UAE to score any more goals in the second half while Safiq got one back for us. We made a few dangerous raids in the second half but could not make up for the three we conceded."
The national players resume training today as they prepare to face Bahrain, who trail Malaysia on goal difference in Group D, with both teams having three points from two matches.
Read more:The injuries keep piling - Soccer - New Straits Timeshttp://www.nst.com.my/sports/soccer/the-injuries-keep-piling-1.373015?cache=03D163D03edding-pred-1.1176%2F%3FpFpentwage63Dp%3A%2Fhe3D03Dn63Frea-rti3D19.3D163D03edding-pred-1.1176%2F%3FpFpentwage63Dp%3A%2Fhe3D03Dn63Frea-rti3D19.111w5ii%2Fed-1.1176%2F%2F2.2525%2F2.2525%2F1.331200%3Fcache%3D0%3Fpage%3D0%2F7.16016%3Fkey%3DKuala+Lumpur%2F7.162608%3Fpage%3D0%2F7.249139%2F7.478118%2F7.478118#ixzz2hTL65Lt6
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