PETALING JAYA: Malaysia hit a new all-time low in their football history.
The national team were thrashed 10-0 by United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the 2018 World Cup qualifying second round Asian Zone Group A match at the Mohamed Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
It was the worst result for Harimau Malaya since going down to New Zealand 8-2 in an international match played in Kuala Lumpur almost 50 years ago.
Dollah Salleh’s boys came to Abu Dhabi looking to salvage some pride after being humiliated by war-torn Palestine 6-0 in their earlier qualifying match, but left the stadium with their tail between their legs.
The visitors were dead and buried by half-time trailing 7-0. The goals came from Mohaned Salem (15th), Ali Ahmed Mabkhout (22nd, 33rd, 75th), Ahmed Khalil (23rd, 29th, 70th, 78th), Habib Al Fardhan (25th) and Mohamed Ahmad Gharib Ali (40th).
Watch the goals and Dollah's response to the defeat here
The odds had been stacked heavily against an experimental Malaysian side as Dollah was forced to call up new faces following dismal results in their earlier qualifying matches at home in June – when Malaysia were held 1-1 by minnows Timor Leste and then thrashed by Palestine.
The 169th ranked Malaysians were up against a formidable opponent - whose world ranking is 70.
Dollah substituted a rattled goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat after the Kelantan custodian conceded four goals in the first 25 minutes.
Zamir Selamat came in but to no avail as UAE were in no compromising mood and hammered another three more goals just before half-time.
Zamir was then replaced by Mohd Khairul Azhan at the hour mark after picking up an injury.
Malaysia will play another tough customer No. 93 Saudi Arabia next in four days time at the Shah Alam Stadium.
But the question is whether Dollah will still be around by then?
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