Decoding U22 Malaysia: 3 key factors in the match against U22 Vietnam

To secure a place in the semi-finals of the men's football tournament at the 33rd SEA Games, the Vietnam U22 team needs to break down the attacking trio of Moses Raj, Aliff Izwan, and Haykal Danish in the match taking place at 4 PM this afternoon (December 11th).

With the U22 Malaysia team bringing a makeshift squad to the SEA Games 33 , missing many key players due to clubs refusing to release them, the strength of Nafuzi Zain's team revolves around a few names.

Specifically, Haykal Danish, Aliff Izwan Yuslan, and Moses Raj are among the rare players currently playing for Super League clubs or in Selangor's top youth academy system .

Because Haqimi Azim was away attending his father's funeral and was unlikely to return in time, the three aforementioned players were central to the team's playing style in the match against Vietnam U22 .

Haykal Danish has a highly technical playing style. Photo: FAM

Haykal Danish Soul

Of the three players, Haykal Danish has the most outstanding international experience. He won the 2022 Southeast Asian U19 Championship, a tournament where Malaysia defeated Vietnam U19 in the semi-finals.

In that match, Haykal scored one goal – a detail that demonstrates the technical quality of this diminutive midfielder.

At the 33rd SEA Games, Haykal continued to play a key role in orchestrating and controlling the tempo of the game. He was the one who scored the equalizer in the opening match against Laos U22, making the score 1-1 .

The 20-year-old's standout qualities include his willingness to take possession, his ability to change the tempo, his presence in key areas , and his fearlessness in taking shots from difficult positions .

With a technical level far superior to the average Malaysian player, Haykal became key whenever Malaysia needed to control the ball or push their formation forward.

Given Malaysia's lack of true playmaking midfielders due to a thin squad, Haykal becomes even more crucial in maintaining balance in the team's operation.

Creative source: Aliff Izwan

Aliff Izwan's presence creates a crucial link between the midfield and the attack. He is a player that the Malaysian U22 team had previously worried about not being able to bring to the SEA Games because Selangor had at one point wanted to keep him.

The need for talented players has led coach Nafuzi Zain to consider Aliff as one of the few remaining pillars of his attacking system.

Aliff – a former Malaysian national team player – possesses speed, dribbling ability, and off-ball runs that are very disruptive.

In a team lacking cohesion, Aliff is the type of player who can create breakthroughs from seemingly harmless situations.

He tends to drop back to receive the ball, stretch the defense, and then accelerate into the space – a type of movement that Malaysia currently relies solely on Aliff for.

If Haykal is the tempo setter, then Aliff is the creative force in attack. The 21-year-old's role becomes particularly important when Malaysia needs to switch tactics quickly against Vietnam U22 .

Moses Raj (22) stands out in terms of physique. Photo: FAM

Moses Raj Shield

If the U22 Malaysia team can withstand pressure and create a foundation for attack, it's largely thanks to the presence of Moses Raj.

The defender, currently playing for Selangor, is the player with the best physique, jumping ability, and powerful playing style in Malaysia's defense today.

In the 4-1 victory against Laos U22, after the whole team was shocked by an early goal conceded, Moses not only provided security with his solid defense but also scored to make it 3-1 after joining the attack.

This goal showcased a rare level of positioning and initiative for a young defender.

With Malaysia lacking experienced central defenders, Moses became the anchor for the entire team to play mid-range pressing, preventing them from being pushed back too deep.

In other words, coach Kim Sang Sik needs to find a way to break down Moses' defensive shield, while also being cautious in situations where the 1.83-meter-tall center-back joins the attack.

Moses' ability to engage in tackles and challenges, along with his precise defensive positioning, are also strengths of his.

Watch SEA Games 33, stand alongside the Vietnamese Sports Delegation, in its entirety onFPT Play, at: http://fptplay.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/u22-viet-nam-dau-u22-malaysia-3-chia-khoa-sea-games-33-2471403.html