IPOH – South Korea are ready to put an end to the Speedy Tigers’ attacking prowess at the ongoing Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
The Taegeuks, who have won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup on three occasions (1996, 2010 and 2019), entered the invitational tournament with zero expectations with an aim to give exposure to their squad, with an average age of 26.
While Malaysia, under the guidance of head coach Sarjit Singh, have scored a staggering 17 goals in their last four matches against Pakistan, Canada, New Zealand and Japan, despite their inconsistent results in the tournament.
Both sides will meet each other tomorrow in their final pool match at the Azlan Shah Stadium.
Head coach Min Tae-seok said that closing down on Malaysia’s midfield and the flanks would be one of the tactics employed by his coaching team against their opponents.
“We all know how fast the Malaysian players are when they are in their attacking mode, and we need to do whatever it takes to stop them from punishing us.
“Their goal-scoring record in the tournament so far has been brilliant, and for sure, our defenders are going to have a tough time overcoming their attacks.
“But we are ready and fired up to put an end to Malaysia’s attack by ensuring that we defend well and also focus on transitioning the game with our counters,” said Tae-seok after his side’s 4-1 defeat to New Zealand yesterday.
Meanwhile, Sarjit said that he was not bothered about his opponents’ opinions of his team.
Sarjit further said that his side would be sticking to his usual tactics on the turf despite their 2-1 defeat at the hands of Japan last night.
“I have always trained my boys not to take anyone’s words or compliments to heart but to focus on improving every day.”
“We will just play our normal game with our usual tactics. Every coach has his own opinion, but I prefer to show what we can deliver on the turf.”
“The boys did well in the last four matches, especially against Japan, and fought till the very end. They will continue to do so against South Korea,” said Sarjit.
For the record, both sides have clashed 33 times since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, with South Korea having a higher winning percentage of 51.52%.
The last time both sides met was during the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, where South Korea emerged triumphant with a 4-3 victory. – May 9, 2024