Sweating it out: Harimau Malaya players warming up during a training session. — FAM
PETALING JAYA: There’s an air of defiance in national football coach Kim Pan-gon’s tone of voice as he insists that the Harimau Malaya’s quest to reach the World Cup 2026 third-round qualifiers isn’t over yet.
The squad were left with a mountain to climb after they were held 1-1 by Kyrgyzstan in their Group D qualifier at the Spartak Stadium in Bishkek on Thursday.
With one more match to go, Malaysia remain third in the group with seven points, while Kyrgyzstan are second with 10 and Oman top with 12.
Here comes the hardest part. To sneak through, Pan-gon’s men must thrash Taiwan by more than five goals and hope that Kyrgyzstan, who have a better goal difference, lose badly to Oman.
It’s an improbable mission but the South Korean isn’t giving up hope that a miracle could happen when they take on Taiwan at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday.
“We’re aware that Kyrgyzstan have a big advantage but I believe we can score more than eight in the next match at home. We also have an advantage. Your team (Kyrgyzstan) conceded four goals when they played us in Bukit Jalil last year (Malaysia won 4-3 in the earlier fixture). I hope you remember,” Pan-gon told the Kyrgyzstani reporters after the draw.
“We believe we can produce something special. Who knows, even Kyrgyzstan might lose badly against Oman.”
“Whatever it is, we’ll keep fighting till the end. We might win 8-0 and you might lose 0-2, and we qualify.
“We have thrashed a side ranked higher than us in the past, the 10-0 win over Papua New Guinea in a friendly last year.
“So it’s not over yet because in football, anything can happen.”
The top two teams in the group will reach the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and will also qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup.
In Thursday’s match in Bishkek, the home side drew first blood through winger Gulzhigit Alykulov in the 24th minute but Malaysia equalised 14 minutes later via an own goal from Odiljon Abdurahmanov.
Pan-gon felt that Kyrgyzstan’s goal should not have been allowed due to a handball incident.
“We started the game well and it was difficult for us to accept the first goal. It should have been a handball,” he said.
“I’m proud of my boys for bouncing back from a goal down. They were eager to win, and I can see the pain on their faces after the final whistle.”
On comments by a reporter who claimed that his side were defensive, Pan-gon was quick to disagree and said: “We created many chances, so I don’t think we were defensive.
“Kyrgyzstan were very lucky because their goal should not have been allowed as there was a handball.
“We played well despite the circumstances we were in, which were playing away and not having some of our key players. We still came with the mindset of winning.”
