PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s dream of qualifying for the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup ended in heartbreak after a late strike condemned them to a 2-1 defeat against hosts Thailand in their final Group F qualifier at the Thammasat Stadium on Tuesday (Sept 10).
The loss meant Harimau Muda finished third in the group with three points from as many matches, while Thailand topped the standings with seven points, edging Lebanon on goal difference to secure their place in the tournament.
Kick-off was delayed by nearly two hours following a torrential downpour that left the pitch waterlogged and sparked debate over whether the game should even proceed.
When play finally began at 9.30pm local time (10.30pm Malaysian), both teams struggled to adapt to the slippery conditions.
Thailand drew first blood in the 32nd minute through Kakana Khamyok, but Malaysia responded swiftly.
Defender Aysar Hadi Sapri levelled the contest just eight minutes later, giving the visitors renewed hope heading into the second half.
However, just as it seemed the game was headed for a draw, Khamyok struck again in stoppage time, firing home the decisive goal in the 92nd minute to send the Young War Elephants through and leave Malaysia shattered.
