KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's 4-0 crushing win over Laos in the AFF Cup today in Singapore was soured by the news that two more players in the team tested positive for Covid-19.
Striker Akhyar Rashid and defender Quentin Cheng were the latest to join the Covid list.
Last week, goalkeeper Khairulazhan Khalid and winger Faisal Halim tested positive for Covid-19 upon arrival in Singapore.
All of them are now under a 10-day quarantine. Despite the setbacks, Malaysia have had a flying start in the AFF Cup, defeating Cambodia 4-1 on Monday and routing Laos 4-0 today at Bishan Stadium.
Despite their team ravaged by Covid, Harimau Malaya still proved too strong for lowly Laos.
Coach Tan Cheng Hoe could even afford to sideline naturalised Brazilian Guilherme de Paula from his starting 11.
In the "absence" of de Paula, Safawi Rasid could be counted on, scoring a hat-trick with goals in the seventh, 34th and 80th minutes. Shahrul Saad got one in the 78th minute.
"The three points (against Laos) are definitely a morale booster but I still believe this team can be more composed and confident," said Cheng Hoe.
Safawi said the match was not as easy as it seemed, but the Malaysian players were very focused on it from the beginning.
Malaysia have two remaining group matches: against Vietnam on Sunday and Indonesia on Dec 19.