Malaysia went on a scoring binge late in the first half en route to a 5-0 blanking of Cambodia last night in a fight-marred Group A match in the Southeast Asian Games at the Panaad pitch in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

Left winger Surendren Rasiah kicked off and completed the scoring for Malaysia, which played the last 40 minutes minus star striker Rudie Bin Ramil, who was sent off for verbal abuse.

Rasiah met Thirumurugan Veeran's free kick with a header from the far post in the 10th minute and Zairo Anuar Bin Zalani made it 2-0 thirty minutes later, finishing off a dazzling run with a curling right-footed rocket from 25 yards out, leaving Cambodia defenseless.

Malaysia, hoping to end a 16-year SEAG title drought, recorded its third goal a minute before the break as Azian Bin Ismali's left-footed volley that was deflected by Thavrak and went into the net.

With Cambodian prince Norodom Buddhapong watching from the VIP box, the match took an ugly twist in the 21st minute when Cambodia defender Om Thavrak tackled Fadzil Bin Shaari, triggering a near free-for-all before referee U Win Cho of Myanmar stepped in to restore order. Thavrak and Shaari were booked with a yellow card each.

The Malaysian booters sustained their assault even without Ramil and were rewarded in the 60th minute when Zalani's pinpoint cross was headed to goal by Fadzil Bin Shaari. Rasiah's close-range strike easily beat keeper Ouk Mic seven minutes from time pegged the final count.

Malaysia actually made a critical coaching change just two months before the Games, replacing Hungarian coach Bertalan Bieskei with local Norizan Bakar in the aftermath of its humiliating 7-0 loss at the hands of Thailand in the pre-SEA Games event in Bangkok.

Cambodia only had four golden opportunities to break through but just could not convert with Malaysian keeper Saiful Amar Bin Sudar producing two marvelous saves in each half to the delight of the lean crowd.

Malaysia and Cambodia are grouped with the RP booters, whose highly-anticipated clash against the defending champion Thais are scheduled at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Panaad pitch.

Meanwhile, Laos and Vietnam collide at 4 p.m. today in a battle of opening-day winners, before Indonesia battles Myanmar in the second game at the Bacolod City Sports Complex.

The Singaporeans squandered a one-goal lead and yielded a 2-1 decision to the Vietnamese Sunday, while Laos upset Myanmar, 3-2. *CPT

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