Malaysia’s Under-16 (U-16) women’s striker Lim You is turning heads at the Srikandi Merdeka Cup in Indonesia after firing seven goals in a thumping 9-0 win over Saudi Arabia to book a place in the semifinals.

The 14-year-old, who has Malaysian-American heritage, lived up to her reputation for possessing a lethal left foot, showing a goal-scoring masterclass that left Saudi Arabia with little answer.

Several of Lim’s goals came from outside the penalty box, showcasing not only the power but also her accuracy and composure.

Her goal spree began in the eighth minute, before she struck twice more in the 22nd and 27th minutes to complete a first-half hat-trick.

After the break, Lim added another four goals, including a penalty, to complete a remarkable seven-goal haul.

Mia Alysa and Ku Nur Qaleysha chipped in with the other two goals.

Malaysia’s own Salah?

Malaysia’s impressive win came despite being a player down after another heritage player, Dishanna Pillay, was shown the red card in the 21st minute.

Lim’s dazzling display has already earned her comparisons with former Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, with Harian Metro reporting that fans have been quick to draw parallels between the young forward and the Egyptian’s prolific goalscoring ability.

The teenager began her football journey at the XF Academy in the United States before going on to represent Malaysia at the international level.

According to media reports, it marked the first time a Malaysian women’s footballer has scored seven goals in a single official international match, giving Lim a place in the record books at just 14.

The emphatic victory also saw Malaysia finish second in Group A on goal difference, level on four points with Hong Kong.

Besides Lim and Dishanna, the team is bolstered by two other heritage players, Isabella O’luanaigh and Sofia Jeanne Lacasse.

O’luanaigh is the granddaughter of renowned Chef Wan, whose real name is Redzuawan Ismail.

Heritage players in the Malaysian women's U-16 team

Malaysia will face the Group B winners, with Thailand among the teams that have already secured a place in the semifinals.

Group A winner Garuda Pertiwi (Indonesia) has also advanced to the semifinals.

The 2026 Srikandi Merdeka Cup is organised by the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) in collaboration with the Bakti Olahraga Djarum Foundation. It is being held from Aug 14 to 23 at the Supersoccer Arena in Kudus, Central Java.

The tournament features eight teams – two Indonesian representatives, Garuda Pertiwi and Putri Nusantara, as well as Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.

The eight teams are divided into two groups, with the group winners and runners-up advancing to the semifinals.


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