Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Nay Pyi Taw: Malaysia beat Vietnam 1-0 in their last qualifying match at Wunna Theik Stadium in Myanmar on Monday but failed to qualify for the inaugural AFC U-14 Championship 2014 finals.
Malaysia only managed a goal against Vietnam through the effort of Muhammad Hadi Fayyadh Abdul Razak five minutes from full time but this result was not enough to see the Malaysians through as Timor Leste beat them to the top of the group on goal difference.
Both the Malaysians and Timor Leste finished the qualifying campaign on 13 points from five games each but the latter team had a 27-goal difference while Malaysia had 16.
Vietnam, meanwhile, accumulated nine points from five matches and finished on third spot of their Group E.
In the other group, Group F also hosted by Myanmar, Thailand emerged as the champions boasting a perfect five-out-of-five record and claimed their ticket to the 2014 finals.
The qualification stage is now complete and all the eight teams contesting for top honours in the inaugural U-14 continental competition are Thailand, Timor Leste, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, DPR Korea and Iraq.
Final Group E standings:
Timor Leste – 13 points
Malaysia – 13 points
Vietnam – 9 points
Myanmar – 6 points
Philippines – 3 points
Brunei Darussalam – 0 points