It was against Laos back in the group stage of the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup that fans saw Syafiq Ahmad being deployed as part of the midfield trio for Malaysia as Tan Cheng Hoe went with a bold selection for a crucial tie. Fast forward five months later and it's the turn of Johor Darul Ta'zim to employ the same tactic with the 23-year-old.
Nominally a striker or a forward, Syafiq started for JDT against PJ City FC behind Diogo Luis Santo and in front of the more defensive minded duo of Hariss Harun and Afiq Fazail. It was a plan which was justified given that JDT won 1-0 courtesy of a fantasy move which Syafiq started and ended.