Malaysia beat India 4-2 in the semifinal of the Merdeka Tournament in Kuala Lumpur to bring an end to the Indian campaign at the competition.
India paid the price for defensive errors throughout the game, as they showed an uncharacteristically brittle rearguard in the face of incessant Malaysian pressure especially in the first half.
India began the game strongly, with Sahal Abdul Samad rattling the crossbar with a sensational volley in the second minute. But in the seventh minute, India went behind after failing to clear their lines from a corner, which was eventually swept home by Dion Cools.
India, though, fought back strongly and equalized through Naorem Mahesh Singh, after a superb move that involved Lallianzuala Chhangte and Sahal. Eventually, the winger's volley proved too hot to handle for Malaysian goalkeeper Syihan Hazmi who let it slip through.
However, parity didn't last long, as Mehtab Singh conceded a penalty after pushing striker Darren Lok in the back. Arif Aiman made no mistake from the spot, even though Gurpreet Singh Sandhu went the right way.
India should've conceded a couple of goals before Malaysia eventually did add a third. Mehtab Singh and Nikhil Poojary were sloppy in possession a couple of times but weren't punished, before a short pass from Mahesh towards Mehtab was intercepted by Faisal Halim, who made no mistake in slotting it past Gurpreet.
After the break, India came out with excellent attacking intent, and just six minutes into the second half, had a foothold back in the game. Mahesh and Chhangte combined, before the latter squared the ball across the box for Sunil Chhetri to tap into an empty net for his 93rd international goal.
A couple of minutes later came the moment that India will look back on as one that turned the game completely. After Sahal's persistence won India the ball in the box, Chhangte took it forward and squeezed a right-footed shot underneath Syihan and beyond the line, but the officials didn't see it that way, and refused to award India the goal.
To add to India's woes, Malaysia added a fourth goal immediately after, as Faisal twisted and turned past Akash Mishra with ease, before cutting the ball back to La'Vere Corbin-Ong who calmly swept it past Gurpreet.
India did have further chances, especially ones that fell to Sahal and Suresh, but didn't take them, and were made to rue their defensive vulnerability in the first half.
Stimac's team will next be in action next month in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which they will begin with an away clash in Kuwait.
Relive the action as it unfolded, right here:
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