KUALA LUMPUR: Substitute striker Fahim Akmal Zulkarnain turned hero for Malaysia with an 89th-minute winner against Singapore in their Under-17 Asian Cup Group E qualifying match on Saturday.
His late strike secured a 2-1 victory for the Young Tigers at the KLFA Stadium in Cheras and revived their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Under-17 Asian Cup.
Singapore had looked set to hold Malaysia to a draw after Izzan Rifqi Farid cancelled out Syaifullah Mahruzi’s 33rd-minute opener in the third minute of added time.
The Young Tigers struggled to break down the stubborn Young Lions defence after the restart.
But Fahim came off the bench to provide the decisive touch in the closing stages and hand Malaysia three valuable points.
The victory was a timely response from Malaysia who opened their Group E campaign with a 2-0 defeat by Palestine.
Malaysia will face Guam and India in their remaining Group E matches.