KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia ran riot as they thrashed minnows Papua New Guinea 10-0 in an international football friendly at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium today.
Winger Arif Aiman Hanapi scored four goals (56th, 60th, 87th and 88th) and Brazil-born midfielder Paulo Josue bagged a hat-trick (52nd, 63rd and 69th).
Malaysia's other goals came from Safawi Rasid (penalty 45th+4), Faisal Halim (58th) and Daniel Ting (76th).
Harimau Malaya dominated from the first whistle, but they struggled to breach Papua's goalkeeper Ronald Warisan for much of the first half.
Winger Akhyar Rashid was felled by Papua's defender Solomon Rani in the 47th minute, causing Indonesian referee Yudo Nurcahaya to point to the spot, and Safawi slammed in the opener for the lead.
In the second half, national team coach Kim Pan Gon took out left-back La'vere Corbin Ong, Safawi and Akhyar for Daniel, Aiman and Faisal. And it turned the match around as the trio ran riot.
The 1O-0 win saw Malaysia setting a new scoring record as they had previously annihilated Papua 10-1 in the first round of the 1976 Olympics qualifiers in Indonesia.
