KUALA LUMPUR: They didn't start well, couldn't even beat lowly Guam; and critics were already writing them off.
But surprise, surprise, Malaysia recovered to win their group and qualify for football's Under-17 Asian Cup next year.
What an enigmatic side. Were the team, coached by Osmera Omaros, lucky or really good?
At the qualifiers in Bogor last week, Malaysia shook off their Guam setback to beat Palestine (2-0), the United Arab Emirates (3-2) and hosts Indonesia 5-1.
Malaysia will join other group winners, including Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Vietnam, Australia, Tajikistan, Iran and Uzbekistan in the Under-17 Asian Cup.
Making up the 16-team competition are best group runners-up South Korea, China, Afghanistan, India, Thailand and Laos.
Coach Ong Kim Swee, who is well versed in youth development, said it is too early to judge the team.
The former FAM technical director said: "We cannot judge on just one qualifying tournament and suddenly conclude there is a big improvement in our football development.
"When it comes to the 13-16 age group, the level of football is not too far away against the Middle East nations, Japan or Korea because they aren't superior in this category.
"I am not saying credit shouldn't be given to the team, but we cannot say because of the result in this qualifier, there's a surge in development.
"If we look at Japan and the likes, what kind of football competitions are they playing in? What kind of leagues do their 16-year olds play in? Then, look at us, our boys play at youth level but do they have exposure abroad?"
Kim Swee stressed that the setting up of the FAM-NSC Project Squad was a step in the right direction, and that more youngsters should be "loaned" to Premier League teams.