WINNING GOAL: Manchester United Michael Owen kicking pass Malaysia’s goalkeeper Mohd Farizal Marlias during their match at the Bukit Jalil Stadium, July 18, 2009. Manchester won 3-2. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Manchester United Patrice Evra flying across teammate Anderson during their match at the Bukit Jalil Stadium, July 18, 2009. Manchester won 3-2. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Manchester United Patrice Evra tackles for the ball with Malaysia’s Amri Yahya during their match at the Bukit Jalil Stadium, July 18, 2009. Manchester won 3-2. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Manchester United Wayne Rooney battles for the ball with Malaysia’s Norhafiz Zamani Misbah during their match at the Bukit Jalil Stadium, July 18, 2009. Manchester won 3-2. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Man U diehards: Manchester United fans showing their love for the English Premier League team at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, July 19, 2009. The fans also showed their admiration for the Malaysian Young Tigers who scored two goals against the EPL champions. The English team won the match 3-2. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Players from Manchester United and Malaysia marching into the field at the Bukit Jalil Stadium, July 18, 2009. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and  his team arrving at the Mandarin Oriental hotel, July 17, 2009.  Manchester United will play against Malaysia tommorow at Bukit Jalil Stadium. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Manchester United players warming up during a training session at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Jul 17, 2009. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Manchester United Wayne Rooney running with teammates during a training session at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Jul 17, 2009. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Manchester United Michael Owen practicing with teammates during a training session at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Jul 17, 2009. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Goalkeeper Edwin VanDarSar greeting fans after the Manchester United training session at the Bukit Jalil Stadium, July 17, 2009. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Fans holding up playcards during the Manchester United training session at the Bukit Jalil Stadium, July 17, 2009.  GLENN GUAN/The Star

People’s champion: Lee Chong Wei greeting the Malaysian fans after beating China’s Chen Long in the men’s singles final of the Malaysian Open GP Gold badminton championship in Johor Bharu, Jun 28, 2009. Chong wei won 21-16 21-9. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Chong Wei is being congratulated by Chen Long after the prize giving ceremony. GLENN GUAN/The Star 

Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei celebrating his win over China’s Chen Long in the men’s singles finals clash at the Malaysia Open GP Gold in Johor Bharu, Jun 28, 2009. Chong wei won 21-16 21-9. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei goes for a smash against China’s Chen Long during their men’s singles final clash at the Malaysia Open GP Gold in Johor Bharu, Jun 28, 2009. Chong wei won 21-16 21-9. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Malaysia’s Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong celebrating after winning compatriot Gan Teik Chai-Tan Bin Shen in the men’s doubles final clash at the Malaysia Open GP Gold in Johor Bharu, Jun 28, 2009. Koo-Tan won 21-11 21-13. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Malaysia’s Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong make a return against Gan Teik Chai-Tan Bin Shen during their men’s doubles final clash at the Malaysia Open GP Gold in Johor Bharu, Jun 28, 2009. Koo-Tan won 21-11 21-13. GLENN GUAN/The Star

China’s Wang Shixian screams in jubilation after defeating compatriot Wang Xin in the women’s singles final clash at the Malaysia Open GP Gold in Johor Bharu, Jun 28, 2009. Wang won 21-16 18-21 21-10. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Making an exit: Malaysia’s Wong Mew Choo walking off with coach Misbun Sidek after losing her women’s singles semi-final clash with China’s Wang Xin, Jun 27, 2009. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Winning expressions: China’s Zheng Bo-Ma Jin celebrate after winning their mixed doubles semi-final against compatriots Zhang Nan-Pan Pan (below) Malaysia’s Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong rejoice after reaching the men’s doubles final. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Agony and ecstasy: Malaysia’s Tan Chun Seang is down and out as China’s Chen Long (below) rejoices after winning their men’s singles quarter-final clash 21-14, 12-21, 21-16, Jun 26, 2009. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Pair on form: Malaysia’s Koo Kien Keat hitting a return to China’s Sun Junjie-Tao Jiaming as Tan Boon Heong looks on during their men’s doubles quarter-final, Jun 26, 2009. Kien Keat-Boon Heong won 23-25 21-8 21-15. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Veteran’s touch: France’s Pi Hongyan returning a shot to Germany’s Juliane Schenk during their women’s singles quarter-final, Jun 26, 2009. Pi won 21-19 26-24. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Lee Chong Wei outplayed China’s Zhou Wenlong 21-18 21-4 to march into the quater-finals.  GLENN GUAN/The Star

China’s Chen Long celebrating his win over Indonesia’s Taufik Hidayat at the Malaysia Open GP Gold in Johor Bharu, Jun 24, 2009. Chen won 21-14 20-22 21-19. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Goh Hao Jian goes for a smash as and Pang Zheng Lin looks on during their qualifying match against K.Yogendran-Yeoh Kay Bin, June 23, 2009. Hao Jian-Zheng Lim won 21-12, 16-21, 21-16 to reach the tournament proper. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Indonesia’s Taufik Hidayat during a training session at the City Stadium in Johor Bharu, Jun 22, 2009. Taufik lost to Lee Chong Wei in the final of the Indonesian Open on Sunday. GLENN GUAN/The Star