KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia used three goalkeepers yet they all failed to prevent the national team from a record 10-0 thrashing by the United Arab Emirates in a World Cup qualifier in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
The scoreline was Malaysia's worst in an international match, eclipsing the previous heaviest defeat of 8-2 to New Zealand in 1967.
Goalkeepers Khairul Fahmi Che Mat (four), Zamir Selamat (three) and Khairul Azhan Khalid (two) were all beaten with ease in what can be considered the national team's biggest humiliation in history.
After 6-0 defeats to Oman in an away March friendly and to Palestine in another World Cup Group A second round qualifier in Bukit Jalil in June, this record score will heap more pressure on national coach Dollah Salleh.
Malaysia trailed 7-0 down at half-time, itself a record for the national team, as Dollah's best-laid plans were left in tatters.
Khairul Fahmi was hauled off after 28 minutes at 4-0 down before Zamir went off injured in the 62nd minute.
Ahmed Khalil scored four times for UAE while Ali Mabkhout also helped himself to a hat-trick.
The writing had been on the wall for Malaysia the moment Mohanad Salem breached the visitors' defence in teh 16th minute before three more goals went in between the 22nd and 25th minutes by Mabkhout, Khalil and Habib Al Fardan.
Zamir was beaten within a minute after coming on by Khalil before Mabkhout and Juma Mohamed Ahmed Gharib took the score to 7-0 at the break.
Razman Roslan replaced fellow centre-back Amiridzwan Taj Tajudin and Malaysia held UAE off until the 70th minute when Khalil grabbed his third of the game before Mabkhout completed his own treble five minutes later.
Khalil to put the final nail in the coffin with UAE's 10th goal in the 78th minute to complete a traumatic night for Malaysia.
MALAYSIA - Khairul Fahmi Che Mat (Zamir Selamat, 28')(Khairul Azhan Khalid, 62'); S. Kunanlan, Afif Amiruddin, Amiridzwan Taj Tajuddin (Razman Roslan, 37'), Zubir Azmi; Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor, Junior Eldstal, Nasir Basharudin, Ahmad Hazwan Bakri; Amri Yahyah, Safiq Rahim.