The national football team gathered together with captain Dion Cools (facing camera) and coach Kim Pan-gon after beating Taiwan 1-0 in a 2026 World Cup-2027 Asian Cup qualifier in Taipei.
PETALING JAYA: Substitute Darren Lok helped Malaysia to record their second straight win in the World Cup 2026-Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers at the Taiwan Municipal Stadium in Taipei on Tuesday.
The Sabah player struck in the 72nd minute to help Harimau Malaya overcame the home team 1-0 in their second Group D match.
Kim Pan-gon's men have thus claimed back-to-back victories after trailing from two goals down to beat Kyrgyzstan 4-3 in Kuala Lumpur last Thursday to go top of Group D with six points.
The position, however, may change if Oman succeeds in beating Kyrgyzstan at the Omurzakov Stadium later at press time.
The national team trooped out with a mission to erase the streak of defeat since 2011 in Taipei but the home side certainly proved to be a tough net to crack.
Malaysia last beat Taiwan 2-1 in the World Cup qualifiers in June of 2011. Malaysia lost 2-3 in the return leg in Taipei that year and went down 0-2 in a friendly tie in 2018.
Malaysia were frustrated on several occasions until Darren broke the deadlock for Malaysia in the 72nd minute.
Malaysia will resume their qualifying campaign against world No. 72 Oman away on March 21 next year.
