China Beat Harimau Malaya 2-0 as Aaron-Roy King Reach Final

Harimau Malaya lost 2-0 to China in an international friendly at the Zhaoqing New District Sports Centre in Guangdong on Saturday (Nov 14), extending Malaysia’s winless run against China that dates back to 1980.

Harimau Malaya fall to early China goals

The hosts scored twice inside the opening 20 minutes. Wang Yudong put China ahead in the 10th minute and Zhang Yuning doubled the lead nine minutes later, Utusan Malaysia and Kosmo reported.

Malaysia had an early escape in the third minute when referee Ko Hyungjin overturned a penalty awarded to China after a VAR review, according to Kosmo. Fergus Tierney found the net in the 77th minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Romel Morales sent an effort just wide late in the first half, while Paulo Josue was denied by China goalkeeper Li Hao with four minutes left, Buletin TV3 reported.

Head coach Tan Cheng Hoe fielded a largely second-string squad. Bergson Da Silva, Arif Aiman Hanapi, Brad Tapp and Manuel Hidalgo were not called up, while Nooa Laine and Faisal Halim were left out through injury. Malaysia face Yemen at the same venue on Tuesday (Nov 17).

Aaron-Roy King book Japan Masters final

In badminton, men’s doubles pair Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King reached the final of the Kumamoto Masters Japan, a Super 500 event, on Saturday (Nov 14).

The world No. 57 pair beat Denmark’s world No. 14 Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard 21-18, 21-18 in 38 minutes at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium, Bernama reported.

The duo, who teamed up last month and won the Arctic Open, will face Japan’s Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi in the final on Sunday (Nov 15). Free Malaysia Today said the Malaysians had won all five of their matches in Kumamoto in straight games.

Netherlands rout Greece in Nations League

In the UEFA Nations League, the Netherlands thrashed Greece 7-0 in Amsterdam on Friday (Nov 13), equalling the competition’s record winning margin, ESPN reported.

Crysencio Summerville opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Tijjani Reijnders hit a first-half hat-trick. Jurrien Timber added two goals and Donyell Malen scored the seventh.

Netherlands coach Xavi praised his players but said “it’s just one game”. Germany beat Serbia 3-1 on the same night and sit three points behind the Dutch ahead of their meeting in Berlin on Monday (Nov 16), Fox Sports reported.

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Aaron-Roy King Stun Taiwanese Pair, Reach Kumamoto Masters Semis