The 40th Merdeka Tournament was played from 15 to 25 October 2008. The tournament was won by Vietnam, who defeated Malaysia 6–5 on penalties in the final.
Teams
(host country)
*Mozambique replaced Kazakhstan following Kazakhstan’s failure to confirm participation. 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.
Stadiums 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.Malaysia demolish young Sierra Leone side to sail into the semis Thestar 18 October 2008.
Group stages All times local (UTC+8)
Group A TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts3300140+149320196+36301239130123141
Group B
TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts321093+6732015506310237–43301224–21
Knockout stages All times local (UTC+8)
Bracket
Semi-finals
Final
Winners
Goalscorers
5 goals Safee Sali
4 goals Indra Putra Mahayuddin Phan Thanh Bình
3 goals Dwight Foray
2 goals Zaquan Adha Ashaari Shamsuddin Alusine Turay Mohamed Kabia Hoàng Đình Tùng Nguyễn Đức Thiện Trịnh Quang Vinh Soe Myat Min
1 goals Lahai Freeman Lajor Bah Sulaiman Kamara Amara Kamara Amirul Hadi Hairuddin Omar Nizaruddin Yusof Khyril Muhymeen Aidil Zafuan Hafizullah Qadami Hashmatullah Barakzai Sayed Bashir Azimi Jahid Hasan Ameli Mohamed Zahid Hossain Jumanu Rai Anil Gurung
Bijaya Gurung Francisco Jange Enio Saize Mauricio Peguenino Zaw Htet Aung Min Thu Khin Maung Lwin Nguyễn Văn Khải
References