Ho Chi Minh City: Malaysia took a huge step towards qualifying for the 2017 ASEAN Futsal Championship semi-finals after registering a 6-3 win over Laos in Group B on Friday.
The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the AFC Futsal Championship Chinese Taipei 2018, where a spot in the semi-finals would meant automatic qualification to the continental showpiece.
On the back of a 14-0 loss to heavyweights Thailand on Matchday One, Laos started aggressively as they set about redeeming themselves.
The quick plays from the Laos forwards, however, backfired when Malaysia did a revese counter-attack that saw Khairul Effendy score in the second minute, courtesy of Abu Hannifa's through pass into the box.
Alounyadeth Saysanavongsi could have brought the score level in the sixth minute as he surged forward, beating the Malaysian defenders but narrowly missed with his shot to the left.
Ten minutes in, Akmarul Nizam hit home from close range when he was left unmarked in the box, which made it easy for Haniffa to rely on his teammate for a clean finish, before Effendy scored his second of the match from mid range that caught the Laos backline off guard shortly after.
The synergy between Azri Rahman and Awalluddin Nawi was evident, when they were in the final third, as either one always looked likely to score.
Rahman etched his name on the scoresheet in the 12th minute when he capitalised on a bewildered Outthilath Nammakhoth, due to the quick one-touch play by the two forwards.
Sysavuey Saysanasy's side pulled one back when Nidnilanh Chanchaleune intercepted a pass before crossing it to Soulichanh Phasaweng, who slid the ball home in the 15th minute.
After the restart, Laos held their ground, but Effendy's shot from the far right found the bottom left of the net in the 27th minute to regain Malaysia's four-goal lead.
Laos went on the offence looking to reduce the deficit and succeeded when Phasaweng's strike earned him his second at the half-hour mark.
Laos had hope of a comeback when Phasaweng's chipped ball into the box found Chanchaleune, who headed the ball home in the 38th minute.
A minute from time, Rahman scored his second of the match when the Laos defenders failed to clear the ball, allowing him to roll it into an empty net.
Source: the-afc.com