Malaysia 2 - 1 Hrvatska (282771510)

140426 fans braved the pouring rain at Prison CF Arena of Glory. Malaysia started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. They fielded: bin Jantan - bin Ahmad Mokshinon, bin Che Mat, Ming sui - bin Rahman, bin Mohd Zain, Singh, Kin Koo, Sangha - bin Omar, bin Ashaari.

Hrvatska had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Lineup: Čalušić - Sabolić, Božičević, Gortan - Ajduk, Vrčko, Zalović, Krznarić, Sekulić - Mašala, Polanec.

Hrvatska used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. Many in the crowd felt the referee was being too lenient when he only showed Malaysia's Mohd Faizal bin Mohd Zain a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 8 minutes into the game. Making his way up the middle 26 minutes into the match, Govinda Sangha almost managed to squeeze a goal past the visitors' keeper, but the alert Viktor Čalušić blocked it to keep the score level. Some great play up the middle by Malaysia led to a chance for Abd Rauf bin Omar to get the go-ahead goal after 27 minutes, but the shot hit the crossbar. Mohd Rizalruddin bin Ahmad Mokshinon had a difficult time on the field; the muddy surface was clearly affecting his technique. At 36 minutes played, Mohd Faizal bin Mohd Zain came in from the right with the intention of giving Malaysia the lead, but his rocket of a shot rattled the crossbar. Šime Polanec delivered a good free kick from an excellent position 37 minutes into the game, but luck wasn't on Hrvatska's side this time and the ball went wide. It was almost a goal for Hrvatska following Karlo Božičević's good header after a corner, it went just over the bar though. 0 - 0 was the score after the first half. Hrvatska enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 53 percent of possession.

Malaysia broke through on the left 58 minutes into the game, with Tan Kin Koo firing in from an acute angle to give the home side a 1 - 0 lead. It was a bad day for the usually speedy Stanko Mašala. The mud seemed to slow him down. 吴 (Wu) 涌辉 (Yonghui) was called on to replace Malaysia's Roziman bin Jantan after 66 minutes following a nasty collision. Hrvatska got a chance to level the score as Šime Polanec suddenly found himself free with only the 'keeper to beat, but the finishing shot hit the bar. Hrvatska tied it all up, 85 minutes in, after a spectacular goal by Stanko Mašala, who miraculously broke through the home side's central defence, making it 1 - 1. 85 minutes into the match, the referee signalled for a Malaysia substitution. 黄 (Huang) 资阳 (Ziyang) came on for Jia Ming sui. As the captain was no longer on the pitch, 黄 (Huang) 资阳 (Ziyang) took over the role of being the Malaysia captain. 85 minutes into the game, Malaysia wanted to bring some new energy to their game. Mohd Rizalruddin bin Ahmad Mokshinon gave Deng Yi Ning a quick hug as he left the field. Almost all the way down to the corner flag, Malaysia's Govinda Sangha somehow managed to get a perfect pass into the middle, impossible to miss for Abd Rauf bin Omar, who struck for 2 - 1. Hrvatska claimed to be the more dominant force in the game, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 51 percent.

Malaysia's best player was Iskandar Zulkernain bin Ashaari. Deng Yi Ning was a disappointment, however. Viktor Čalušić performed admirably for Hrvatska. Dragan Sekulić on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 2 - 1.