PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will need to do some soul-searching after they lost to Bahrain 0-2 in a FIFA International friendly at the Bahrain National Stadium in Riffa on Saturday (May 29).
Bahrain first took the lead in the 41st minute when Mahdi Abduljabbar buried a penalty after Irfan Zakaria brought down Abduljabbar in the penalty box.
Malaysia should have equalised in the 45th minute when Syafiq Ahmad received a brilliant cross from rightback Matthew Davies, but the striker headed it over the bar.
In the second-half, Bahrain started stronger and got their second goal at the 61st minute when Jassim Marhoon capitalised on a loose touch from goalkeeper Farizal Marlias, who didn’t deal well with Liridon Krasniqi’s innocuous pass.
Though the scoreline suggests Malaysia did not fare too badly, it could have been worse if Bahrain were clinical with their chances. Before facing Bahrain, Malaysia lost to Kuwait 1-4 in a test match in Dubai last week.
Malaysia will next face the United Arab Emirates on June 3 in the World Cup 2022-Asian Cup 2023 second-round qualifiers in Dubai.
