Young Tigers fail to advance after draw with defending champs Japan

PETALING JAYA: The Young Tigers produced a valiant effort but it was not enough to qualify for the 2020 Under-16 AFC Championship in Bahrain.

In the qualifiers held in Laos yesterday, they were on the cusp of victory as they were leading defending champions Japan 2-1 in their final Group J encounter but a Yamato Naito header in the dying minutes of the match ended their hopes of finishing on top.

Even finishing second in the group is not good enough for Malaysia as only the best five second-placed teams qualify for the Finals. With the 2-2 draw yesterday, Malaysia picked up four points out of three matches.

P. Maniam’s side were left with 10 men when goalkeeper Zulhilmi Sharani was sent off in the 61st minute for bringing down midfielder Yoshiri Narahara in the box.

Rui Osaka converted to give Japan the lead.

The Malaysians then fought back with numerous attempts at goal and were duly rewarded 10 minutes later when they earned a penalty.

Centreback Daniel Edzuan scored from the spot and he went on to bag his brace with a header in the 81st minute.

But Naito’s late goal proved to be the killer blow.

Maniam, however, was proud of his charges and said they showed tremendous fighting spirit.

“Our mindset was only to win today but a lapse in concentration saw us conceding the late goal,” he said.

“Even when we were down 1-0 and playing with 10 men, they showed grit to fight their way back into the game.

“I’m proud of them. With what they have shown today, I see them as the future of Malaysian football.”

I’m proud of them. With what they have shown today, I see them as the future of Malaysian football.

P. Maniam