Johor bahru: Harimau Malaya head coach Peter Cklamovski expressed his pride in the team after last night's 1-0 win over Palestine at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium. The Australian coach highlighted the players' discipline, strong mentality, and commitment despite facing a short turnaround during this international window. According to BERNAMA News Agency, Cklamovski noted that the first half, particularly the initial 60 minutes, was impressive. He commended the team for their defensive efforts in the last 20 minutes, which helped secure a clean sheet and the victory. The coach made significant changes, with seven new players and six substitutions during the match, yet the team maintained its rhythm and focus. Cklamovski emphasized the importance of team mentality over individual performance and praised the successful execution of a training-ground move that led to the game's only goal. Striker Joao Figueiredo scored early in the third minute after converting a cross from Quentin Cheng. The coach expressed s atisfaction with the team's overall performance and reiterated their focus on teamwork. The victory against Palestine, a team ranked among the top 100 globally, serves as a morale booster for Harimau Malaya as they prepare for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. The team plans to focus on improving passing accuracy, set-pieces, and maintaining consistency in the lead-up to October. Meanwhile, Palestine head coach Ehab Abu Jazar acknowledged that the absence of key players contributed to their loss. Despite this setback, Jazar congratulated Malaysia on their victory and recognized their progress as a strong team. He also viewed the match as an opportunity to evaluate new and less experienced players.