Malaysia ended its more than 40-year wait to qualify on merit for the 2023 Asian Cup by scoring an emotional victory over Bangladesh at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last night.
The Harimau Malaya squad coached by Kim Pan Gon thrashed Bangladesh 4-1 in their final Group E match of the Asian Cup Qualifiers.
Playing before 52,964 spectators, the national squad scored a convincing win and ended with six points to finish behind group champions Bahrain and book their ticket to the 2023 Asian Cup as one of the top five runners-up.
The goals were scored by Muhammad Safawi Rasid, Dion Cools, Muhammad Syafiq Ahmad and substitute Darren Lok.
A highly motivated Malaysia started aggressively by serving an early warning with striker Muhammad Syafiq's shot in the sixth minute which beat goalkeeper Anisur Rahman but struck the post.
Their relentless attacks in the early stages finally paid off when Muhammad Safawi put them ahead in the 16th minute through a penalty, which was awarded after Matthew Davies was brought down by Mohammad Atiqur Rahman.
Three minutes later Muhammad Safawi narrowly missed doubling the lead for Malaysia as the Johor Darul Ta'zim FC (JDT) player's header was pushed away by Rahman.
Just as Malaysia was dominating the play, Bangladesh silenced the crowd by equalising in the 31st minute when Mohammad Ibrahim headed the ball into the net off a long cross from his teammate.
Malaysia took the lead again in the 38th minute when defender Dion Cools let fly a left-footed shot which beat Rahman to register his first goal for the national squad.
Malaysia continued to control the game and widened their lead when skipper Muhammad Syafiq scored with a header from a cross by Mohamad Faisal Halim two minutes into the second half.
Bangladesh, coached by Javier Fernandes Penato, had a chance to narrow the gap in the 57th minute but substitute Md Foysal Ahmed Fahim's close-range shot was blocked by goalkeeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi.
Malaysia, which last qualified on merit for the Asian Cup in the 1980 edition in Kuwait, sealed its victory when substitute Darren Lok latched onto a pass from Muhammad Akhyar Abdul Rashid to score their fourth goal in the 73rd minute.
However, Muhammad Akhyar's dream of getting his name on the score sheet was dashed when his header in the 79th minute hit the crossbar, keeping the score at 4-1 until referee Zaid Thamer Mohammed of Iraq blew the final whistle.
Ismail Sabri congratulates the squad
Malaysia last played in the Asian Cup in 2007 when they co-hosted the tournament.
Later in the night, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob praised and congratulated the Harimau Malaya squad on their qualification to the 2023 Asian Cup finals.
The prime minister expressed his pride in the national squad, who fought till the final whistle to down Bangladesh 4-1 in their final Group E match of the 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers.
“Malaysia has created history! Congratulations also to our diehard supporters. We will continue our quest at the 2023 Asian Cup!,” the prime minister posted on his Facebook page.
Ismail Sabri, who also watched the match, cheered the team with every goal scored.
He also said that their performance last night was very good and satisfying.
- Bernama
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