PETALING JAYA: Malaysian juniors blew a good chance to stay alive in the AFC Under-20 Asian Cup 2025 qualifiers after settling with a draw against Sri Lanka.
The Harimau Muda were the favourites but the team lost their roar after a 1-1 score in a Group E game at the Pamir Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on Sunday.
Defender Amir Farhan Mohd Fuzi helped Malaysia take the lead in the 32nd minutes but they were unable to capitalise on the chances they created after that.
The hammer blow came in the 88th minute when Sri Lanka’s J. Harish scored to give his national their first goal and point of the qualifiers.
A healthy win against Sri Lanka could have given Malaysia a chance to finish as one of the best runners-up in the qualifiers.
They had earlier downed favourites Oman 2-1, held North Korea 0-0, and lost 0-1 to Tajikistan.
This is the second time in a row that Malaysia have failed to qualify for the AFC Under-20 Asian Cup.
Malaysia’s last outing was in 2018, where they played in the group stage.
Malaysia have played in the competition 23 times since 1959 and their best finishes came in 1959, 1960 and 1968 where they ended up as the runners-up.
