AFC Asian Qualifiers
Despite the win, Malaysia are almost certain to miss out on the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers as only a seven-goal defeat for Kyrgyz Republic against Oman later on Tuesday will enable the Southeast Asian side to progress.
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Malaysia again started with Dion Cools in attack as they went in search of an early goal but an Ange Kouame shot flashing wide provided a reminder of Chinese Taipei’s threat on the counter attack.
The warning sign was not heeded by the home side and the visitors promptly went ahead on 20 minutes, Kouame threaded a through pass for Yu Yao-hsing who ran in on Safwan Mazlan’s blindside to slot past Azri Ghani.
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Safawi Rasid had two opportunities to draw Malaysia level in quick succession, skewing a shot wide after being put through before seeing his header pushed away by Chinese Taipei custodian Pan Wen-chieh.
Malaysia were thwarted four minutes before the end of the first half with Safawi laying on a pass for Akhyar Rashid but the latter’s shot was blocked by the alert Pan.
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Kim Pan-gon sent on Sergio Aguero at the start of the second half to give Malaysia’s attack a new lease of life and the hosts found themselves level within eight minutes of the restart.
Aguero collected the ball on the left and squared it for Safawi, who lashed at it with left foot. Pan looked to have covered the shot by diving to his right but the ball bounced off him and into the net for Malaysia’s equaliser.
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Inspired by the goal, Malaysia took the lead in the 69th minute, Aguero slipped in Corbin Ong whose cutback was turned in by Paulo Josue at the near post with Pan rooted.
Further attacking changes were made by Kim late on with the arrivals of fresh wide men in Haqimi Azim and Adib Raop, with Adib adding a goal in stoppage time to inflict Chinese Taipei a sixth straight loss.
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