KUALA LUMPUR: Despite not winning their group, a lucky Malaysia have qualified for football's Under-23 Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar, next year.
Malaysia pipped Iran on disciplinary points to rank as the best four second-placed teams after both sides were tied with three points each from two matches, on goal difference and goals scored.
The Young Tigers' hopes of qualifying for the tournament proper had earlier seemed to be over following a 1-0 loss to Thailand in their final Group H match in Chonburi, Thailand, yesterday.
Malaysia finished second in the group with six points after beating Bangladesh 2-0 and the Philippines 4-0 last week.