KUALA LUMPUR: China handed 10-man Malaysia a 2-0 defeat in their international friendly, but the result was overshadowed by two rejected penalty appeals, a late goal ruled out following a VAR review and Fergus Tierney’s dismissal.
The world 96th-ranked hosts took control with two goals inside the opening 20 minutes, as Wang Yudong scored in the 10th minute before Zhang Yuning doubled their advantage nine minutes later at the Zhaoqing New District Sports Centre Stadium on Saturday.
World No. 133 Malaysia were left frustrated after South Korean referee Ko Hyung Jin waved away two penalty appeals in the first half.
Dion Cools was brought down inside the box before Ramadhan Saifullah also went to ground following a challenge in the penalty area, but the referee was unmoved on both occasions.
Harimau Malaya thought they had reduced the deficit in the 77th minute when Tierney fired a shot from outside the box into the net.
However, their celebrations were cut short after a VAR review ruled out the goal following a foul by Safwan Mazlan earlier in the attacking move.
Malaysia continued to search for a breakthrough, with Richard Chin seeing his attempt saved by China goalkeeper Li Hao before Paulo Josue missed a chance in the 83rd minute.
Tierney’s difficult evening ended with a red card in the 90th minute after he received a second booking for retaliating following a foul by Alex Yang.
The defeat came after Tan Cheng Hoe was forced to make several changes to his squad for the trip to Guangdong.
Malaysia travelled without Johor Darul Ta’zim regulars, including Arif Aiman Hanapi, due to the club’s congested schedule.
Cheng Hoe then lost six Selangor players to injury on the eve of departure following Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final second leg against Kuching City. Nooa Laine, Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman, Ahmad Zikri Khalili, A. Selvan, Syahir Bashah and Harith Haiqal Adam Afkar were ruled out, prompting the coach to draft in Dominic Tan, Syafiq Ahmad, Ariff Farhan Isa, Suhaimi Husin and Safwan Mazlan.
Kuching winger Safawi Rasid was another absentee, returning home on Thursday to attend to family matters.