3-5-2 FOOTBALL

The  Malaysian Football League  (MFL) is planning to resume the  Malaysia League  in September. However, all matches will be played behind closed doors. The season was suspended on March 16, two days before the Movement Control Order (MCO) was enforced to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the September restart will also depend on the situation then. If the M-League is not allowed to resume in September, the season will be called off. Due to time constraints, the home-and-away format for the  Super League  and the  Premier League  has been scrapped. Teams will now play each other only once, meaning the champions of the Super League and Premier League will be decided after 11 rounds of matches. According to MFL plan, the Super League and Premier League will start on Sept 1 or 2 and end on Sept 26 or 27. The MFL has also changed the format of the Malaysia Cup by dropping the group stage. The 16-team competition, comprising 11 Super League teams and five Premier League

The FA of England says that it "remains committed" to finding a way in which to conclude the season and is open to playing up until the end of June. In their recent statement issued, the governing body confirmed that there will be no professional football in England, including the Premier League , until at least April 30 as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak. Initially, fixtures in the country were suspended until the weekend of April 3-5 as a minimum , but this has been extended as the UK battles the pandemic, with more than 2,500 cases confirmed in the country. The FA released a statement on Thursday, which said: "The FA, Premier League, EFL and women’s professional game, together with the PFA and LMA , understand we are in unprecedented times and our thoughts are with everyone affected by Covid-19. With all games suspended, the Covid-19 outbreak has delayed Liverpool 's Premier League celebrations. They are currently on top of the table and need six

The   Malaysian Football League   (MFL) and   Football Association of Malaysia   (FAM) today announced that all 2020   Malaysian League   (M-League) matches scheduled from Monday (March 16) will be postponed due to Covid-19. FAM president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin announced the decision at a press conference after chairing a special meeting on the Covid-19 pandemic here today. However, Hamidin said all Premier League and Super League matches for this week (Friday-Sunday) will still be played but in empty stadiums (without spectators). “The decision is taken in the interest of all players, teams and supporters involved directly with the national football arena.” The meeting was also attended by representatives from the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH), National Sports Council (NSC), National Sports Institute (NSI), sponsors and M-League partners. Mursyid Alharamain Hamidin, who is also MFL president, said the decision also involved other local competitions organised by FAM and MFL – incl

Johor Darul Ta'zim  (JDT) completed their  M-League  double after defeating  Kedah  3-0 in the  Malaysia Cup  final. The Super League champions did not face much problems to tame the  Red Eagles  at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday. JDT  opened the scoring in the 27th minute through  Leandro Velazquez . Eight minutes later,  Safawi Rasid  doubled the lead for the  Southern Tigers . Kedah struggled to stop their opponent as they were without centreback  Renan Alves  and rightback  Rizal Ghazali  due to suspension. Syafiq Ahmad  added the third for JDT after the break to sealed their victory. It is only their second Malaysia Cup title, after winning it in 2017. JDT had also won the  Charity Shield  early in the season, before winning the  Super League  in June. Asia Sports Channel

Vietnam  ended their ten years wait to win the  AFF Suzuki Cup  after beating  Malaysia  1-0 in the tournament’s final second-leg at  My Dinh Stadium . After the 2-2 draw in the first leg at the  National Stadium  in Kuala Lumpur, Vietnam carried two away goals advantage for the final 90 minutes in Hanoi.  Nguyen Anh Duc  turned hero for the home side as he scored the only goal in the sixth minute after receiving a cross from midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai. Malaysia pressed for an equaliser but the score remained until the final whistle. Vietnam survived the thrilling encounter with a deserving 1-0 victory. They are officially the champions of AFF Suzuki Cup 2018, beating Malaysia 3-2 on aggregate after the two legs. This is the first AFF Cup championship title in a decade for Vietnam and also only their second in history. They lifted the trophy right after the match and the fans celebrated throughout the night. Midfielder  Nguyen Quang Hai  was named the  Most Valuable

PIALA MALAYSIA: SELANGOR 2 - KEDAH 0 Selangor extended their Malaysia Cup winning record after beating Kedah 2-0 in the final on saturday. The Red Giants claimed their 33rd title at Shah Alam Stadium thanks to Hazwan Bakri's brace, and the brilliant tactical by Mehmet Durakovic. Selangor did not take long to struck on the counter. Andik Vermansyah released the ball from his own half to Guilherme De Paula, whose lofted pass sent Hazwan sprinting down the right before applying a cool finish by dinking his shot over goalkeeper Firdaus. Kedah, nearly equalised just before the break but goalkeeper Norazlan Razali tipped Rizal Ghazali's drive over to preserve Selangor's lead. As the match resumed, Hazwan was on target again after firing into the far corner past Firdaus from De Paula's through ball in the 48th minute. Kedah struggled to respond as substitute Farhan Roslan put a free-header over the bar in the 65th minute before Norazlan denied Sandro Da S

PIALA MALAYSIA: KEDAH 2(4) - FELDA UNITED 1(3) Kedah defeated Felda United 2-1 In the Malaysia Cup semi-finals, return-leg matche last night at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar. The Red Eagles got through to the final with a 4-3 on aggregate. Goals in by Chidi Edeh (44th) and Sandro da Silva (50th) were enough to keep the home side on course for a Premier League and Malaysia Cup double this season. Felda had earlier stunned Kedah with the opening goal by Syamim Yahya in the 39th minute. Baddrol Bakhtiar, who missed the first leg through suspension, was the home team's best player in front of the sellout 30,000 crowd. The right-sided midfielder was at the heart of most of Kedah's attacking moves, supplying the crosses for forwards Edeh and Da Silva. Felda United's hopes of drawing level were dashed in the 61st minute when veteran striker Indra Putra Mahayuddin was sent off after collecting his second yellow card for elbowing Shafizan Hashim in the face.