Saravanan steals the spotlight to help Harimau Muda beat Singapore 7-0
BERNAMA
May 11, 2023 
Saravanan steals the spotlight to help Harimau Muda beat Singapore 7-0
Among the interesting scenes of the meeting between Malaysia and Singapore in finishing Group B at the Cambodian SEA Games. - FAM Facebook
PHNOM PENH: The national Under-22 (U-22) squad ended the 2023 SEA Games men's football competition with a big victory when they defeated Singapore 7-0 in the final match of Group B at the Prince Stadium here, today.
In that action, striker T. Saravanan stole the spotlight when he scored four goals and provided one assist to become the Harimau Muda squad's top scorer at the biennial sports event.
The 20-year-old Kuala Lumpur (KL) City FC player put E. Elavarasan's squad in front as early as the 14th minute after his curling shot from inside the penalty box failed to be saved by Singapore goalkeeper Muhammad Aizil Mohamed Yazid.
He then played a role in the national team's second goal after his cross went straight to the head of striker Muhammad Haqimi Azim Rosli in injury time of the first half.
Saravanan made it 3-0 three minutes after the break when he fired a solid shot from close range that saw him take advantage of a mistake by the Singaporean defense, Kieran Teo released the ball that hit Muhammad Haqimi's leg before the ball bounced towards him.
He then completed his hat-trick in the 54th minute after taking advantage of Singapore's defensive line confusion in the penalty box, before scoring his fourth personal goal through a swipe that Muhammad Aizil failed to save in the 63rd minute.
Approaching full time, team captain Muhammad Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi and substitute Mohd Aiman Afif Md Afizul each scored their names in the 88th minute and second half stoppage time to complete the big win over Singapore.
Elavarasan's men finished third in Group B with a total of six points from four games behind Thailand and Vietnam and failed to advance to the semi-finals.
For the record, the last time Malaysia won a medal at the SEA Games was in the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur by winning silver while the last time it won gold was in Indonesia in 2011.
