PETALING JAYA: Malaysia have ended their Group F AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in defeat, losing 1-3 to Vietnam at the Nam Dinh Stadium on Tuesday (March 31).
Vietnam scored as early as the seventh minute through wingback Do Doy Munh, and after that goal, they piled on the pressure with chance after chance.
But the first half stood 1-0 to Vietnam as the Malaysians defended resolutely with a three-man centreback formation comprising Ubaidullah Samsul Fazili, Harith Haiqal Adam Afkar and Matthew Davies.
The second half was the Rafaelson Bezerra show when the naturalised Brazilian scored two goals for the Golden Dragons in the 51st and 59th minutes.
Malaysia reduced the deficit in the 76th minute through midfielder Endrick dos Santos.
With the defeat, Harimau Malaya, led by Australian coach Peter Cklamovski, ended the campaign with nine points from six matches.
Two weeks ago, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) ruled that Malaysia had fielded ineligible players in two fixtures, a 2-0 win over Nepal on March 25 and a 4-0 victory over Vietnam on June 10 last year.
Both results have since been overturned and recorded as 3-0 defeats.
