DOHA: Before Harimau Malaya's third and last group game against South Korea on Thursday, let's take a look at the numbers from the matches against Jordan (lost 4-0) and Bahrain (lost 1-0).
World No. 130 Malaysia, qualifying for the first time on merit in 43 years, kicked up some impressive numbers.
Based on statistical analysis of the 24 teams in Doha, Malaysia have the 10th lowest passes per defensive action rate at 11.4 per cent as of Sunday.
A lower score indicates a more aggressive and effective pressing style, as it means that the opposing teams are allowed fewer passes before encountering defensive pressure from Malaysia.
Kim Pan Gon's squad also ranked better than their Southeast Asian counterparts with Indonesia in 13th (12.9 per cent), Thailand (15.5 per cent) and Vietnam (20.8 per cent).
South Korea lead the table with seven per cent. Making up the top five are hosts and defending champions Qatar (8.2 per cent), Iran (8.9 per cent), Saudi Arabia (9.5 per cent) and Japan (9.8 per cent).
But there's one statistic that Malaysia will not be proud of — tied for first in terms of goals conceded at five.
Joining Malaysia at the top are India, Palestine and Vietnam. India and Vietnam have been eliminated.
The goalkeepers of the respective teams are Syihan Hazmi (Malaysia), Filip Nguyen (Vietnam), G. Singh Sandhu (India) and Rami Hamada (Palestine).
Malaysia defender Dion Cools (pic) is ranked in the top 10 for clearances.
He was listed at No. 7 with 11 clearances. Cools is tied with Lebanon's Khalil Khamis, Nguyen Thanh Binh of Vietnam, India's S. Jhingan and Suad Natiq of Iraq.
The hardest working defender is Thailand's Pansa Hemviboon with 18 clearances.
Despite their early exit from the Asian Cup, Harimau Malaya will still come home with US$200,000 (RM944,000), the amount given to each participating nation in Doha.
The teams that reach the semi-finals will pocket US$1 million each.
The winners and runners-up will receive US$5 million and US$3 million respectively.