Malaysia win AFF Under-19 crown

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia claimed their second AFF Under-19 football title in four years after defeating Laos 2-0 in the final at the Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium in Bekasi, Indonesia, today.

Goals from defender Faiz Amer Runnizar and midfielder Aliff Izwan Yuslan gave the Young Tigers a well-deserved win.

It was the perfect response from the Malaysian team who had fell to an embarrassing 1-0 defeat by Laos in a group match last Monday.

Coach Hassan Sazali Waras had said that the final would be a different game, and his team did produce a different performance today that took Laos by surprise.

Malaysia opened scoring in the 13th minute with Faiz guiding Aliff's long-range freekick past Laotian goalkeeper Phounin Xayyasone.

Laos pressed for the equaliser, but in doing so, opened up space for Malaysia to counter-attack, and Aliff put the game beyond Laos' reach with a strike from inside the box in the 76th minute.

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