2008 Merdeka Tournament

The 40th Merdeka Tournament was played from 15 to 25 October 2008.[1] The tournament was won by Vietnam, who defeated Malaysia 6-5 on penalties in the final.

2008 Pestabola Merdeka
Tournament details
Host countryMalaysia
Dates15–25 October
Teams8
Venue(s)3 (in 3 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Vietnam (1st title)
Runners-up Malaysia
Tournament statistics
Matches played15
Goals scored56 (3.73 per match)
Top scorer(s)Malaysia Mohd Safee Mohd Sali
(5 goals)
2007
2013

Teams

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*Mozambique replaced Kazakhstan following Kazakhstan’s failure to confirm participation.[2] Mozambique will play with their Under 20 squad.

**Sierra Leone will be sending their Under 20 squad.

***Vietnam will be sending their Under 22 squad.[3]

Stadiums

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City Stadium Capacity
Kuala Lumpur Bukit Jalil National Stadium* 100,000
Shah Alam Shah Alam Stadium 81,000
Petaling Jaya MBPJ Stadium 25,000

*Venue for last group match change because of the poor pitch condition at the MBPJ Stadium.[4]

Group stages

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All times local (UTC+8)

Group A

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Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Malaysia 3 3 0 0 14 0 +14 9
  Sierra Leone 3 2 0 1 9 6 +3 6
    Nepal 3 0 1 2 3 9 –6 1
  Afghanistan 3 0 1 2 3 14 –11 1
Malaysia  4–0    Nepal
Indra Putra   20'
Safee   25', 48'
Khyril   52'
Report
Attendance: 31,000
Referee: Huang Junji (China)

Afghanistan  2–2    Nepal
Barakzai   62'
Azimi   86'
Report A. Gurung   63'
B. Gurung   72'

Malaysia  4–0  Sierra Leone
Indra Putra   69'
Safee   75'
Aidil   79'
Adha   90'
Report
Attendance: 41,500

Afghanistan  1–6  Sierra Leone
Qadami   47' Report Turay   20'
A. Kamara   51'
Kabia   60'
Foray   76', 86'
S. Kamara   88'

Nepal    1–3  Sierra Leone
Rai   40' (pen.) Report Bah   6'
Turay   88'
Freeman   90'

Malaysia  6–0  Afghanistan
Ashaari   21', 64'
Nizaruddin   41'
Adha   44'
Safee   85'
Hairuddin   87'
Report

Group B

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Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Vietnam 3 2 1 0 9 3 +6 7
  Myanmar 3 2 0 1 5 5 0 6
  Mozambique 3 1 0 2 3 7 –4 3
  Bangladesh 3 0 1 2 2 4 –2 1
Myanmar  1–3  Vietnam
Zaw Htet Aung   44' Report Thanh Bình   3', 47'
Đức Thiện   74'
Attendance: 1,200

Bangladesh  0–1  Mozambique
Report Jange   88'
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: P. Sasidaran (India)

Mozambique  0–4  Vietnam
Report Thanh Bình   58'
Đình Tùng   63', 80'
Quang Vinh   72'

Bangladesh  0–1  Myanmar
Soe Myat Min   23'

Bangladesh  2–2  Vietnam
Ameli   32'
Zahid   49'
Report Văn Khải   4'
Thanh Bình   62'

Mozambique  2–3  Myanmar
Saize   40'
Peguenino   65'
Report Min Thu   57'
Soe Myat Min   69'
Khin Maung Lwin   72'

Knockout stages

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All times local (UTC+8)

Bracket

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Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
23 October
 
 
  Vietnam (PSO) 2 (3)
 
25 October
 
  Sierra Leone U-20 2 (2)
 
  Vietnam (PSO) 0 (6)
 
23 October
 
  Malaysia 0 (5)
 
  Malaysia 4
 
 
  Myanmar 0
 

Semi-finals

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Vietnam  2–2 (a.e.t.)  Sierra Leone U-20
Quang Vinh   73'
Đức Thiện   81'
Report Kabia   39'
Foray   68'
Penalties
Nhật Nam  
Thanh Bình  
Công Huy  
Đức Thiện  
3–2   ??
  ??
  ??
  Kabia
  Bah

Malaysia  4–0  Myanmar
Indra Putra   26', 76' (pen.)
Safee   61'
Amirul Hadi   83'
Report

Final

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Vietnam  0–0 (a.e.t.)  Malaysia
Report
Penalties
Nhật Nam  
Danh Ngọc  
Công Huy  
Đức Thiện  
Văn Duyệt  
Tiến Thành  
6–5   Indra Putra
  Safee
  Hardi
  Ashaari
  Daudsu
  Norhafiz

Winners

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 2008 Merdeka Tournament winner 
 
Vietnam

1st title

Goalscorers

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References

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  1. ^ "Sathia sees the bright side of Merdeka tourney". Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  2. ^ "Shorter Hari Raya holidays for the national players". Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Vietnam Name Merdeka Cup Squad". Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  4. ^ Malaysia demolish young Sierra Leone side to sail into the semis Archived 6 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine Thestar 18 October 2008.