Improved Malaysia in World Cup qualifying vs. UAE behind closed doors

KAMARUL AKHIR/AFP/Getty Images

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Malaysia lost 2-1 to the United Arab Emirates behind closed doors in Group A of AFC qualification for the 2018 World Cup at the Shah Alam Stadium on Tuesday but fans watching on television were treated to a fighting performance from the Tigers against one of Asia's top teams.

Goals in each half from Omar Abdulrahman and Ahmed Khalil put the visitors in control but a second half header from Baddrol Bakhtiar ensured a nervous finish.

Seven changes were made by caretaker coach Ong Kim Swee after the 6-0 loss in Palestine but the real difference came with a resolute performance and a respectable result.

In the end, both teams were happy. The UAE, 10-0 winners when the two last met in September, were relieved just to take the three points while the hosts knew that a little pride had been restored. Losing at home should never be celebrated but in certain circumstances it can be accepted and given recent results, Tuesday was one of those circumstances.

As expected, the visitors started aggressively but there was determination on behalf of the home team to keep out the nation that finished third at the 2015 Asian Cup in January.

It lasted until almost the midway point of the first half when a defensive mistake lead to the opening goal. Azamuddin Akil ran himself into danger near the left corner flag and tried a desperate clearance that made it only as far as the loitering Abdulrahman. The bushy-haired playmaker, linked to Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona and more besides, was on the top left corner of the area and curled a sumptuous shot into the opposite corner of the Malaysian net. It was as beautiful as it was unnecessary.

In recent games, the first has led to many but this time, Malaysia held firm.

There was never really any suggestion that the hosts were going to score with a wild shot skied over the bar from Fakri Saarani in the 16th minute about as good as it got in the first half.

It was not about winning however, it was about showing fight and there was plenty of that. There was pressing , pressuring and pushing and perhaps a little too much of the rough stuff.

Ahmed Khalil managed a hat trick in the first game between the two and took advantage of a high defensive line to run on to a perfectly flighted chipped pass from Abdulrahman. The Al Ahli striker rounded the goalkeeper and rolled the ball home.

Just as the home team were starting to look a little tired, they were back in the game. Skipper Safiq Rahim whipped in a free-kick from the right and there was Baddrol Bakhtiar, freshly married, to head home in emphatic fashion.

It breathed new life into the Tigers and the energy levels rose. Suddenly, UAE -- and this was a must-win game for the West Asian visitors if they were to stay in the hunt for an automatic place in the final round -- looked nervous.

Malaysia's ambitions were less grand, just to stay in the game and ensure that the Emiratis knew they had been in a contest. They succeeded on both counts.

It is not a long-term target but for now, it will do.