1957 Merdeka Tournament Explained

Year:1957
Size:230px
Country:Federation of Malaya
Dates:31 August – 7 September
Finalists:4
Venues:1
Cities:1
Champion Other: Hong Kong
Count:1
Second:Indonesia
Third:South Vietnam
Matches:6
Goals:28
Nextseason:1958

The first edition of the Merdeka Tournament was held in August and September 1957 in Malaya (now Malaysia). It was won by Hong Kong League XI. Singapore won a consolation tournament for teams that did not qualify for the final round.

First round

A series of knockout ties was held to determine which teams would compete in the second round. The match between South Vietnam and Singapore required a replay as the score was level at the end of the first match.

First Round Replay

Second round

The winning teams from the first round played a series of matches against one another. The team finishing top of the group was the tournament winner.

width=175 Teamwidth=20 abbr="Points" Ptswidth=20 abbr="Played" Pldwidth=20 abbr="Won" Wwidth=20 abbr="Drawn" Dwidth=20 abbr="Lost" Lwidth=20 abbr="Goals for" GFwidth=20 abbr="Goals against" GAwidth=20 abbr="Goal difference" GD
Hong Kong League XI5321085+3
4320185+3
2310267−1
13012611−5

Consolation Tournament

The losing teams from the first round played a series of matches against one another as a consolation tournament. The team finishing top of the group was the winner of this tournament.

width=175 Teamwidth=20 abbr="Points" Ptswidth=20 abbr="Played" Pldwidth=20 abbr="Won" Wwidth=20 abbr="Drawn" Dwidth=20 abbr="Lost" Lwidth=20 abbr="Goals for" GFwidth=20 abbr="Goals against" GAwidth=20 abbr="Goal difference" GD
53210103+7
Burma4320195+4
23102511−6
1301216−5

Goalscorers

7 goals
6 goals
5 goals

Notes

1. One source (P.S.S.I, "Kenang-Kenangan P.S.S.I. 50th 19 April 1930 – 19 April 1980", 1980.) report this match as a 4–2 victory to Malaya.