Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kunshan: Danial Amier Norhisham sealed a shock 1-0 win for Malaysia over Saudi Arabia in their final Group C match of the AFC U23 Championship 2018 on Tuesday as Ong Kim Swee’s side claimed a place in the quarter-finals.
Danial’s 29th minute strike was enough to earn Malaysia their first win of the tournament and take them into the last eight in second place in the group, behind winners Iraq and ahead of Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Malaysia were forced into a determined rear-guard action throughout the final stages of the game as the Saudis chased the draw they needed to progress, but Daniel Teglia’s side could not find a way past the battling Southeast Asians.
The Saudis had started on the front foot, with Fahad Al Rashidi hitting the crossbar with barely two minutes on the clock with an inswinging free kick while Jaber Asiri threatened with a header just after the quarter hour mark.
Much of the play was taking place in the Malaysian half of the field, with Ong’s side pegged back by a Saudi side desperate to secure the win needed to advance to the quarter-finals.