Najmuddin brace sends Malaysia into AFC Under-16 quarters

Mohd Najmuddin Samat (middle) scored two goals as Malaysia defeated Oman 2-1. - filepic

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia are just one win away from their first-ever appearance in the FIFA World Under-17 Finals in Chile next year.

On Wednesday, Malaysia qualified for the AFC Under-16 quarter-finals when they defeated Oman 2-1 in their final Group A match at the Muangthong Stadium in Bangkok.

Mohd Najmuddin Samat was the hero – scoring a brace in the 63rd and 78th minutes while Mohd Salam replied for Oman in the 68th minute.

Malaysia will face Group B winners Australia in the quarter-finals at the Rajamangala Stadium on Sunday. The semi-finalists will automatically qualify to the FIFA World Under-17 Finals.

Malaysia finished runners-up in Group A with six points, having earlier defeated hosts Thailand 1-0 and losing 1-0 to table-toppers South Korea.
 
South Korea collected the maximum nine points while Thailand finished third with three points. Winless Oman finished bottom with no points.

South Korea, who wrapped up their campaign with a 2-0 win over Thailand, will play Group B runners-up Japan in the other quarter-final.

The last time Malaysia played in a FIFA age-group Finals was at the Under-20 World Cup in 1997, by virtue of being the hosts.