KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia needed a Brazilian-born player to save them the blushes against lowly Timor Leste in an Asean Cup match in their own backyard on Wednesday.
Paulo Josue scored two goals in Harimau Malaya's 3-2 win over the supposedly timid Timorese in a Group A match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
The script had it that world No. 132 Malaysia steamroll No. 196 Timor Leste, but the hosts were given a shock instead by Timor Leste who had never won a single point in the group stage of the Asean Cup.
After struggling to have the upper hand, Malaysia went in front in the 37th minute through Syafiq Ahmad.
But the Malaysians could not believe what happened next. Malaysia were actually second best to Timor Leste in the first half — trailing 1-2.
Yup, 1-2. This is not a typo. Timor Leste scored the equaliser from a counter attack that ripped the Malaysian defence apart in the 46th minute through Olagar Xaxier.
Joao Pedro put the visitors in front in first half added time, and they headed to the changing room on a high.
Josue scored the equaliser for Malaysia in the 70th minute to make it 2-2 before netting the face-saving winner in the 83rd minute.
Malaysia coach Pau Marti Vicente said he reminded his players that they still had 45 minutes to play in the second half despite trailing 2-1.
"We cannot blame the referee or bad luck, injuries, or the opponent. Everything is on our hands and we need to do everything to win the match."
Meanwhile, Timor Leste coach Simon Elissetche said they were unhappy with the outcome of the match and several decisions from the match referee.
"We did our job which we prepared for. We managed to defend well and take the lead but we lost in the end."
The win came as a huge relief for Malaysia who had struggled to draw 2-2 against another lowly side, Cambodia, in their group opener last Sunday.
There won't be any more "easy teams" for Malaysia. Their next match will be against Thailand in Bangkok on Saturday and against Singapore at Bukit Jalil on Dec 20.