KUALA LUMPUR: Coach Kim Pan Gon resorted to doing "maths" when asked about Malaysia's chances of reaching the third round of World Cup qualification.
When it seemed Malaysia's hopes are all but over following the 1-1 draw against Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek yesterday, Pan Gon, the eternal optimist that he is, was playing with figures.
Malaysia, to begin with, must beat lowly Taiwan by a lot of goals at Bukit Jalil on Tuesday in their final Group D match. Only the top two teams in the group advance to the next round.
For context, Malaysia are third in Group D with seven points from five matches. Oman are top with 12 points while Kyrgyzstan are second with 10. Point-less Taiwan are last.
Even on goals difference, Kyrgyzstan are better by eight than Malaysia. The White Falcons scored 12 and conceded six while Harimau Malaya scored six and conceded eight.
Pan Gon admitted that Kyrgyzstan hold a significant advantage in goal difference, but he believes that Malaysia have the capability to score many goals against Taiwan.
Pan Gan pointed out it was at Bukit Jalil that Harimau Malaya put a veritable four goals past Kyrgyzstan in a 4-3 win in the first round last November.
He said while Kyrgyzstan will play away against Oman on Tuesday (supposedly a tough encounter), Malaysia will be at home and formidable.
"If we score seven goals (against Taiwan) and Kyrgyzstan lose 2-0 (to Oman), then we stand a chance to progress," said Pan Gon.
With Malaysia no longer master of their own destiny, Pan Gon's men now play the game of
"ifs".
Malaysia must beat Taiwan by eight goals at least, and hope that Kyrgyzstan lose to Oman.
But even if Kyrgyzstan lose to Oman, and if Malaysia win by less than eight goals against Taiwan, Malaysia also won't make it to the third round.
Rhetorically, even if Malaysia beat Taiwan 100-0, it won't be enough if Kyrgyzstan, who beat Oman 1-0 in the first round last year, draw with Oman.