KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia ended up as the worst team in Group D of the Under-23 Asian Cup in Doha yesterday.
Malaysia, who lost earlier to Uzbekistan and Vietnam with an identical 2-0 scoreline, went down 2-1 to Kuwait in their final group match at the Al Janoub Stadium.
The Malaysian team, coached by Spaniard Juan Torres Garrido, will return home without a single point to show.
Disaster struck the Young Tigers in the 45th minute when goalkeeper Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman was expelled from the field.
Sikh Izhan attempted to clear the ball from outside the penalty box but brought down Salman Mohammed as a result. And he was sent off by referee Alex King after a check with VAR.
On top of a miserable day, Sikh Izhan also picked up a nasty knock on his head in the clash with Salman and received medical treatment.
The Sikh Izhan incident affected the Malaysian team badly as forward Luqman Hakim Shamsudin had to be sacrificed for reserve goalkeeper Firdaus Irman Fadhil to come in.
The Malaysian team found themselves under Kuwaiti pounding, and this led to defender Umar Hakeem Suhar Redzuan elbowing Talal Al Qaisi. And Salman Al Awadhi converted the penalty kick in the 14th minute of added time in the first half to give Kuwait a 1-0 lead.
The second half saw Kuwait using their numerical advantage in players to press the Malaysians, and they eventually scored again through Talal's header in the 60th minute.
Though outnumbered, Malaysia fought hard and scored three minutes later through Haqimi Azim Rosli.
In the 84th minute, it was Kuwait's turn to be reduced to 10 men after Salman was shown the red card for a nasty foul on Umar Hakeem.
Malaysia battled on in the hunt for a face-saving draw but to no avail.
Meanwhile Uzbekistan crushed Vietnam 3-0 to emerge as Group D champions with three wins in as many matches.