Tapp, Nooa reaffirm Malaysia Tigers' stronghold amid donations
Malaysia’s Football Squad Celebrates Clean Sheets as Harimau Malaya Dominates ASEAN Cup Kickoff
Source: Sinar Harian · September 30, 2026 at 2:32 PM · AI-assisted report
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JAKARTA, BANDUNG (STADIUM SI JALAK HARUPAT), GBK STADIUM, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 —
Malaysia’s Football Squad Celebrates Clean Sheets as Harimau Malaya Dominates ASEAN Cup Kickoff
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Captain Dion Cools praised his defensive partner Brad Tapp and midfielder Nooa Laine after Malaysia’s Harimau Malaya secured two clean sheets in the opening matches of the 2026 ASEAN Football Confederation International Cup (AFC Cup) in Jakarta.
The victories—including a 3-0 win over Bangladesh and a goalless draw with hosts Indonesia—have propelled Malaysia to the top of Group A, securing a place in the final stage ahead of the next round. Cools highlighted the defensive duo’s chemistry, while Laine’s tactical maturity was singled out as a key factor in the team’s success.
Cools, speaking after the matches, said the defensive pairing with Tapp had proven effective. “Two clean sheets... I’m impressed. We can continue this partnership and hope to maintain it in the next games,” he stated. Tapp, 25, is one of three new faces in the squad alongside naturalized strikers Bergson da Silva and Manuel Hidalgo. Cools also commended Laine, a Cerezo Osaka FC player, for his growing consistency and adaptability to tactical instructions.
“For me, he’s an excellent player. Every time I join the national team, I see him improving,” Cools added.
The squad, led by interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe, will face Singapore in the final Group A match at Stadium Si Jalak Harupat in Bandung tomorrow. Malaysia currently leads the group with four points, tied with Indonesia on points but ahead on goal difference, while Singapore sits third with three points. Bangladesh remains at the bottom with none.
The tournament’s top two teams will advance to the final, with the runners-up competing for third place, both matches scheduled for Monday at GBK Stadium.