KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia shook off a shaky start to subdue Solomon Islands 4-1 in an international football friendly at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium today.
World No 134 Solomon Islands seized the lead against No 138 Malaysia in the 11th minute through Raphael Leai, their only professional player in the team, following a blunder by goalkeeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi Mohamed.
Malaysia eventually exerted their control on the match and launched raids, but custodian Philip Mango produced a heroic display for the visitors.
Harimau Malaya finally got the equaliser through naturalised Brazilian midfielder Paulo Josue in the 40th.
Seven minutes later, Malaysia pulled ahead when Arif Aiman Hanapi slotted in a penalty kick after he was felled inside the box.
Malaysia coach Kim Pan Gon's decisions to bring in Safawi Rashid and naturalised Englishman Lee Tuck in the final 20 minutes for the tiring Arif Aiman and Faisal paid off as they scored a goal each.
Safawi showed his brilliance by controlling the ball and volleying it past Mango for Malaysia's third in the 78th minute. Tuck tucked home a low shot from the edge of the box a minute into added time.
The win saw Malaysia chalk up a three-match winning streak from March. The team's next friendly is against Papua New Guinea in Kuala Terengganu on June 20.