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Harimau Malaya claws back against Kyrgyzstan in stunning fashion | Scoop
Faisal Halim and Dion Cools celebrate Harimau Malaya’s win over Kyrgyzstan, scoring the last two and most pivotal goals of the match. – Azim Rahman/Scoop pic, November 16, 2023
Sports

Harimau Malaya claws back against Kyrgyzstan in stunning fashion

The national team came back from a 1-3 deficit to win it in thrilling fashion 4-3 in injury time

Main Author Image
Faizal Salim
Updated
11:53 PM MYT

 

KUALA LUMPUR – The national team made a stunning comeback to beat Kyrgyzstan 4-3 in a thrilling opening second round game of the 2026 World Cup/2027 Asian Cup qualifiers at Bukit Jalil National Stadium tonight.

Kyrgyzstan – ranked 97th in the world – were the favourites to win, but an injury time goal by Faisal Halim helped Harimau Malaya take all three points.

Faisal Halim dribbles against the Kyrgyz defence at the World Cup qualifier between Malaysia and Kyrgyzstan at Bukit Jalil National Stadium. – Azim Rahman/Scoop pic, November 16, 2023

In the first half, Kim Pan-gon’s men started brightly and opened the scoring through a towering header by Dion Cools in the seventh minute, which sent the 17,142 supporters in the stands into a frenzy. 

In the 42nd minute, Kyrgyzstan equalised through their defender Zhyrgalbek Kairat, while their forward Batyrkanov Ernist put the visitors ahead just before the halftime whistle.

Dion Cools is ecstatic after scoring the equaliser in the World Cup qualifier between Malaysia and Kyrgyzstan at Bukit Jalil National Stadium. – Azim Rahman/Scoop pic, November 16, 2023

After the break, Kyrgyzstan doubled the score when their substitute Merk Kai scored in the 57th minute after some sloppy defending from Harimau Malaya.

As the match seemed slipping away from the home team, Pan-gon brought in Endrick dos Santos, Paulo Josue, and Muhammad Akhyar Rashid, for Shahrul Mohd Saad, Darren Lok and Brendan Gan.

The crowd went wild at the display of athletic prowess by Harimau Malaya tonight. – Azim Rahman/Scoop pic, November 16, 2023

The substitution worked as the instant pressure in the front of Kyrgyzstan’s goal forced an own goal by Khristiian Brauzman in the 72nd minute.

Six minutes later, Dion Cools scored his second goal of the night, levelling it at 3-3 before Faisal slotted home the winner at stoppage time. – November 16, 2023

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