Malaysia continued their impressive run in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, securing a comfortable 3-0 victory over Laos. This commanding win, achieved with four naturalized players in the squad, ensures Malaysia maintains their top spot in Group F with three consecutive victories. The triumph, however, comes as the Malaysian Football Federation (FAM) faces an ongoing investigation by FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding the eligibility of seven naturalized players previously used.
The goals for Malaysia came in the second half, with Arif Aiman opening the scoring in the 54th minute. Captain Dion Cools, one of the naturalized players, doubled the lead in the 69th minute, and Faisal Halim sealed the win in the 90+8th minute. The match itself was played in good spirits, with no significant fouls or cards issued to players from either team.
This latest victory adds to Malaysia’s strong performance, following earlier wins against Nepal (2-0) and a significant 4-0 defeat of Vietnam in September. Despite their excellent form, the team’s progress is overshadowed by the pending decision from FIFA and CAS. The inquiry centers on allegations of document falsification for seven naturalized players who participated in the contentious victory against Vietnam. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is awaiting the final verdict, which could potentially lead to points being deducted from Malaysia and returned to Vietnam, or even more severe penalties imposed on FAM.
Currently, in Group F, Malaysia leads the standings with a perfect nine points and nine goals scored from three matches. Vietnam sits in second place with six points, while Laos holds third with three points, and Nepal is at the bottom of the group.
The match against Laos marked the 20th historical encounter between the two nations. Malaysia boasts a superior record, having won 13 matches, drawn 5, and lost only one. Laos’s sole victory against Malaysia was a 1-0 win during the 1997 SEA Games.
For this crucial qualifier against Laos, Malaysia once again fielded four naturalized players. These included Romel Morales, originally from Colombia; team captain Dion Cools, with Belgian heritage; Lavere Corbin Ong, from Barbados in the Caribbean; and Nooa Laine, of Finnish origin. All these players are reported to have Malaysian ancestry.
Malaysia is set to face Laos again in the second leg of their Group F qualifier on October 14, with the match taking place on Laotian soil.
In other Asian Cup qualifier matches played on October 9:
* **Group F:** Vietnam secured a 3-1 victory over Nepal.
* **Group E:** Pakistan drew 0-0 with Afghanistan, while Syria defeated Myanmar 5-1.
* **Group D:** Sri Lanka narrowly beat Turkmenistan 1-0, and Thailand overcame Chinese Taipei with a 2-0 scoreline.
* **Group C:** Singapore played to a 1-1 draw with India, as Hong Kong emerged victorious against Bangladesh in a 4-3 thriller.
* **Group B:** Lebanon registered a 2-0 win against Bhutan, and Brunei suffered a 0-2 loss to Yemen.
* **Group A:** The Philippines triumphed 4-1 over Timor-Leste, and Tajikistan defeated Maldives 2-0.
