Malaysia U20 national team ended of this tournament by tied with Sri Lanka U20 national team scoring 1-1 in the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers Group E at Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe.
Malaysia started strongly, controlling possession and creating chances, but they were unable to break through Sri Lanka’s resilient defense in the early stages. It wasn’t until the 31st minute that Malaysia finally broke the deadlock. A clever pass from Muhamad Daniel found Amir Farhan, who slotted the ball past Sri Lankan goalkeeper MF Ahameed Shareef to make it 1-0.
Despite their dominance, Malaysia was unable to extend their lead. Muhammad Danial free kick just before halftime was saved by Ahameed Shareef, and the score remained 1-0 at the break.
The second half saw Malaysia continue to press for a second goal, but Sri Lanka’s defense held firm, frustrating the national team’s attempts to widen the margin. Ariff Safwan Safri came close in the 84th minute with a long-range effort, but Ahameed Shareef was equal to the task once again.
Malaysia’s control of the match unraveled in the 87th minute when Sri Lanka’s J Harish scored with a header, beating Malaysia’s goalkeeper Haziq Aiman, marking Sri Lanka’s first goal of the qualifiers and securing a 1-1 draw.
Despite dominating much of the match, Malaysia’s hopes of advancing were dashed as they finished third in Group E with five points. Their position could drop to fourth if Tajikistan wins against Oman in the final group match.
Sri Lanka, who had struggled in their previous three matches, finally earned their first point of the qualifiers. They had previously lost to North Korea, Tajikistan, and Oman, conceding 12 goals without scoring.
Malaysia’s failure to secure a win means they will not advance to the next stage of the tournament, leaving Head Coach Juan Torres Garrido with much to reflect on as his team exits the qualifiers with disappointment.
Credit Photo : FAM
