KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia defended resolutely for 45 minutes before cracking in the second half to go down 2-0 to Saudi Arabia in their final 2018 World Cup qualifier in Jeddah on Thursday.
Mohammed Al Sahlawi and Taiseer Al Jassim scored after half-time as Malaysia ended their qualifying campaign with a third successive defeat in Group A.
Saudi Arabia, ranked 60th in the Fifa world rankings and under the tutelage of Dutchman Bert Van Marwijk, remain top of standings with 19 points, three ahead of the United Arab Emirates, 2-0 winners over Palestine in an earlier match.
Malaysia stay in fourth place on four points with Timor Leste bottom on two points but having a game still to play against Palestine on Tuesday.
National coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee gave Australia-born midfielder Brendan Gan his senior international debut while full-back Azrif Nasrulhaq Badrul Hisham started for the first time in his second appearance.
Fadhli Shas, who has only made two starts for Johor Darul Ta’zim this year, surprisingly lined up alongside clubmate Aidil Zafuan Radzak in central defence while captain Safiq Rahim and Baddrol Bakhtiar packed the midfield behind lone striker Amri Yahyah.
The game was mostly played out in the Malaysian half but it was not until 20 minutes that Khairul Fahmi Che Mat was forced into a smart save when the goalkeeper got down low to palm away an Abdulla Al Dossary volley.
Malaysia, a lowly 167th in the rankings, suffered an injury blow five minutes later when centre-back Aidil had to go off and replaced by Shahrom Kalam, the Selangor captain going on for his second cap.
Fahmi was called into action again on 35 minutes to deny Al Sahlawi, the Asian zone’s top scorer with 14 goals, before Safiq had a go from distance, which sailed over, in Malaysia’s first attempt at goal.
Just before the break, Fahmi came to Malaysia’s rescue again with a fine save from Abdulmalek Al Khaibri’s pile-driver before Gan put in a timely block when the ball broke loose for Omar Ibrahim Othman with the goal gaping.
Saudi Arabia struggled to break down the Malaysian defence for over 70 minutes the two teams first met in Shah Alam on Sep 8 last year but it took them just five minutes after half-time to get through this time.
Salman Al Faraj played the ball behind the Malaysian defence and Salman Muwashar’s strike was only blocked by Fahmi as far as Ah Sahlawi for the easiest of finishes.
Quick thinking by Yasir Alshahrani released Al Jassim to squeeze a shot through Fahmi’s legs for the second goal in the 74th minute.
Malaysia made rare forays into the Saudi half but never tested the home team goalkeeper Khalid Sharahili.-nst
