Goalscorer D. Saarvindran (left) celebrates his goal in the 11th minute of the match against Timor Leste. - S. S KANESAN / The Star
SINGAPORE: Malaysia got off to a winning start in their SEA Games opener despite playing with 10-man for most of the match.
Malaysia, who dominated the match, found the net when winger D. Saarvindran scored the solitary goal of the night in the 11th minute but disaster struck 20 minutes later.
Mohd Nazmi Faiz Mansor, who was tussling for the ball with Timor Leste’s Filipe Oliveira on the sideline, spat at the midfielder.
Referee Foo Chuan Hui promptly showed Nazmi a straight red card after he was informed by the fourth official.
Malaysia will now be without the influential midfielder in their next two crucial matches – against Vietnam on Tuesday and defending champions Thailand on Thursday.
Despite a man down, Malaysia continued to dominate the match but failed to extend their lead.
Timor Leste looked much more dangerous after the breather as they used their numerical advantage in search of the equaliser.
National Under-23 coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee introduced nippy striker S. Kumaahran and winger Nazirul Naim Che Hashim for Mohd Nuridzuan Abu Hassan and Mohd Syafiq Ahmad respectively to inject some pace in the side.
But the Malaysian side struggled to find a foothold without their playmaker Nazmi and it made a telling difference as the match wore on.
Timor Leste skipper Angissu Barbossa came close to draw level but his low freekick outside the box was pushed to safety by goalkeeper Mohd Farhan Abu Bakar in the 86th minute.
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