Harimau Malaya coach Tan Cheng Hoe’s bold move in revamping the midfield and attack resulted in a slicker, sharper and more effective performance from his men compared to their opening 3-1 win over Cambodia on Monday.

Cheng Hoe replaced Putera Nadher Amarhan Maderner, Akhyar Rashid and naturalised player Guilherme de Paula with Arif Aiman Hanapi, Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi and Belgian club KV Kortrijk’s striker Luqman Hakim Shamsudin.

Laos, who started the game by pounding the Malaysian goalmouth with three attempts in the first five minutes, were caught flatfooted on a counterattack, with Safawi cooly tapping in a pass from Arif Aiman in the seventh minute.

Three minutes later, Malaysia nearly doubled their lead but Syafiq Ahmad’s header hit the post while the follow-up attempt by skipper Aidil Zafuan Radzak hit the bar.

It was then left to Safawi to make it 2-0 when his header, off a corner taken by Arif from the left, sailed past Laos goalkeeper Keo Oudone Sovannasangso in the 34th minute.

World No 154 Malaysia came back in the second half and continued to bombard the V Selvaraj-coached Laos defence.

First, experienced midfielder Baddrol Bakhtiar’s powerful long-range drive missed the target by inches in the 56th minute. Three minutes later, Safawi’s freekick attempt was pushed out by Keo.

Harimau Malaya, however, did not have to wait long for the third goal as, off a quick counterattack, defender Shahrul Saad received a through pass from Baddrol to slot home in the 78th minute.

Two minutes later Safawi completed his hattrick, and scored his fourth goal of this campaign, when he latched onto a through pass from substitute R Kogileswaran before steering a grounder to the right side of the Laos goalmouth.

Malaysia next face defending champions Vietnam on Sunday and wrap up their group stage against Indonesia on Dec 19.

Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals.