KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia advanced to the second round of the 2014 World Cup Asian Zone Qualifier despite losing 2-3 to Taiwan in the return leg of the first round qualifier in Taipei Sunday night.
Having won the first leg 2-1 here on Wednesday, the aggregate ended up 4-4 but Malaysia qualified on the away-goal rule.
Malaysia will play Singapore next in the city-state on July 23 with the return leg scheduled for July 29 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil here.
Singapore had got a first round "bye".
Despite playing away, the Malayan Tigers were the more fiery when play started and it did not take them long to score when Mohamad Aidil Zafuan Abd Radzak fired home a deadball from 40 yards out.
Stunned, the hosts upped the tempo and in the 30th minute Chang Han pulled Taiwan level when he fired past Malaysian keeper Mohd Sharbinee Allawee Ramli during a goalmouth melee.
However, this did not deter the Malaysians who piled on the pressure on the hosts and were duly rewarded when Safiq Rahim also converted a free kick from just outside the penalty box nine minutes later.
However, the advantage was short-lived when Taiwan were gifted a penalty in the 43rd minute when Mahali Jasuli brought Chen Po Liang down in the box. Chen made no mistake.
On resumption, with the stakes so high, both teams went for each other's jugular and in the 61st minute, Taiwan were awarded another penalty after Mohamad Fadhli Mohd Shas fouled Chen but Mohd Sharbinee rose to the occasion to deny Taiwan.
However, the resulting joy was only momentary as Taiwan were awarded another penalty in the 74th minute when Mohd Sharbinee Allawee fouled Chen inside the penalty box. Xavier Tsan Yuan did not err this time.
Though both teams tried to "go for the kill" after that, the score stood until the final whistle.
For the record, Malaysia have never qualified for the World Cup since taking part in the qualifiers from 1974.
The 2014 World Cup will be held in Brazil.
Having won the first leg 2-1 here on Wednesday, the aggregate ended up 4-4 but Malaysia qualified on the away-goal rule.
Malaysia will play Singapore next in the city-state on July 23 with the return leg scheduled for July 29 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil here.
Singapore had got a first round "bye".
Despite playing away, the Malayan Tigers were the more fiery when play started and it did not take them long to score when Mohamad Aidil Zafuan Abd Radzak fired home a deadball from 40 yards out.
Stunned, the hosts upped the tempo and in the 30th minute Chang Han pulled Taiwan level when he fired past Malaysian keeper Mohd Sharbinee Allawee Ramli during a goalmouth melee.
However, this did not deter the Malaysians who piled on the pressure on the hosts and were duly rewarded when Safiq Rahim also converted a free kick from just outside the penalty box nine minutes later.
However, the advantage was short-lived when Taiwan were gifted a penalty in the 43rd minute when Mahali Jasuli brought Chen Po Liang down in the box. Chen made no mistake.
On resumption, with the stakes so high, both teams went for each other's jugular and in the 61st minute, Taiwan were awarded another penalty after Mohamad Fadhli Mohd Shas fouled Chen but Mohd Sharbinee rose to the occasion to deny Taiwan.
However, the resulting joy was only momentary as Taiwan were awarded another penalty in the 74th minute when Mohd Sharbinee Allawee fouled Chen inside the penalty box. Xavier Tsan Yuan did not err this time.
Though both teams tried to "go for the kill" after that, the score stood until the final whistle.
For the record, Malaysia have never qualified for the World Cup since taking part in the qualifiers from 1974.
The 2014 World Cup will be held in Brazil.
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