Hat-Trick Hero Alif Ashraf Powers Malaysia U-17 to Dominant 5-0 Victory Over Macau

HANOI, Vietnam - The Malaysian U-17 national team kicked off their AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign with a resounding 5-0 win over Macau, showcasing a dominant performance fueled by a spectacular hat-trick from forward Alif Ashraf.

The young Malayan Tigers controlled the tempo from the opening whistle, but the breakthrough came late in the first half.

Alif Ashraf, wearing the number 12 jersey, proved to be the difference-maker, striking twice in rapid succession just before the break to give Malaysia a comfortable lead.

• Goal 1: 39' - Alif capitalized on a defensive lapse, calmly slotting the ball home.

• Goal 2: 40' - Barely a minute later, he seized another opportunity, doubling the advantage with a quick finish.

Alif returned in the second half with the same killer instinct, completing his remarkable hat-trick just four minutes after the restart.

• Goal 3: 49' - The young star connected with a well-placed cross, heading past the Macau goalkeeper to make it 3-0 and seal his impressive treble.

Despite the three-goal cushion, Malaysia maintained their attacking pressure until the final whistle. The introduction of substitutes added fresh impetus, which led to two late goals from midfielder Iman Danish, jersey number 9 to complete the rout.

• Goal 4: 86' - Iman Danish, displaying excellent footwork, scored a neat individual goal from just inside the box.

• Goal 5: 90+3' - Deep into stoppage time, Iman struck again, curling a beautiful shot into the net to bring the final score to a commanding 5-0.

The victory gave Malaysia the perfect start to the qualifying tournament. The focus now turns to the upcoming matches as they aim to secure a place in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup.