Asian Games : Malaysia Stun South Korea to Top Group E

 By Mohd Shukri Ishak  BANDUNG, Aug 87 (Bernama) -- Malaysia stunned South Korea in the men’s football competition of the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games 2018, edging their more fancied opponents 2-1 in their second Group E match at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium here Saturday. Malaysia showed no fear against the mighty Koreans and scored as early as the 4th minute when  Muhammad Safawi Rasid (pix) pounced on a loose ball after their keeper fumbled a catch. South Korea who had 2018 World Cup player Hwang Hee-Chan in the team piled on the attacks after that but failed   to make headway and it was Malaysia who again scored, this time Muhammad Safawi again in the 45th minute. Shell-shocked, they substituted Kim Jungmin with Son Heung-Min, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur and had also played in the World  Cup in Russia, in the 56th minute. Their attacks came non-stop but Malaysian keeper Muhammad Haziq Nadzli, 23, was in top form until Hwang Ui Jo managed to get past him in the 87th minute. It was the second win for the national Under-23 squad which put them in top spot in Group E with six points.  The team coached by Ong Kim Swee had defeated Kyrgzstan 3-1 in their opener on Wednesday. South Korea are in second spot with three points while Kyrgyzstan and Bahrain only have a point a piece after playing to a 2-2 draw in the second group match. Bahrain had  lost  0-6 to South Korea earlier. Malaysia next play Bahrain in their final group match on Aug 20. (photoBERNAMA)          -- BERNAMA