The five heritage players from the Western Hemisphere were left overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from Malaysian fans on Tuesday night.
Making their debut appearances for Malaysia, the players won the hearts of over 61,000 fans at the National Stadium as they played key roles in a dominant 4-0 win over Vietnam in the Asian Cup qualifier.
Argentine-born winger Imanol Machuca, who was introduced as a substitute in the 72nd minute, received a thunderous welcome from the home crowd. After the match, he shared his gratitude online, saying, “Unforgettable night, thank you for all the love. This is just the beginning.”
Spain-born defender Jon Irazabal, who played the full 90 minutes, described the experience as an honour. “Thank you all for the incredible support. Everything felt easier with you behind us. I’m grateful for the opportunity and ready for the next battle,” he said.
Rodrigo Holgado, also from Argentina, netted Malaysia’s second goal in the 59th minute. Reflecting on the night, he wrote, “A dream night. I’m very happy to represent this beautiful country and fulfil this dream in my football career. I want to thank everyone who has been part of this – my teammates for the warm welcome, the coaching staff, and all the people of this wonderful country who made me feel so happy from the first minute.”
Brazil-born forward Joao Figueiredo opened the scoring in the 49th minute, while Argentine centreback Facundo Garces also impressed in his debut. Both were clearly touched by the reception from the Malaysian supporters.
