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Malaysia secured their second straight victory under interim coach Ong Kim Swee by defeating Timor Leste 1-0 in an AFC World Cup qualifier in Dili on Tuesday. A 10th minute goal by evergreen forward Amri Yahyah proved the difference between the two nations as the Malaysians picked up their first win in Group A in the second round of qualifying. The positive result came five days after Harimau Malaya broke their winless streak for 2015 by beating Laos 3-1 in a friendly in Bangkok on Thursday. And it provided some measure of revenge against the Timorese who held Malaysia to a 1-1 draw in their opening qualifier on June 11. Ong's side are now fourth in the standings on four points, above the Timorese (two points) in last spot. The visitors went with Ismail Faruqi in place of suspended captain Safiq Rahim -- given his first cap since 2011 -- with a centre-back pairing of Aidil Zafuan Radzak and Razman Roslan as they looked to shore up a defence that had conceded 19 goals in their previous four competitive matches. And after making a bright start, Malaysia stunned the hosts with a goal from Johor Darul Ta'zim veteran Amri, who was captain on the night. Seizing on the cut-back from Harimau Muda fullback Nazirul Naim, Amri calmly slotted the ball home with his left foot to give Malaysia the lead after 10 minutes. Timor Leste, with a strong Brazilian-born contingent, did everything they could do get back in the game, pouring forward in the second half in search of an equaliser. Five days ago, they were seconds away from beating Palestine 1-0 at home before the West Asians scored in stoppage time to force a 1-1 draw. But Malaysia held firm to secure their first clean sheet of the campaign, doing the long term chances of Ong -- and assistant Brad Maloney -- no harm at all, as the nation's governing body considers applicants for the permanent coaching position. Malaysia's next AFC World Cup qualifier is away to Palestine on Nov. 12.
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