KUALA LUMPUR: The national Under-23 (U-23) football squad ended their campaign in the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup without any victories after losing 1-2 to Kuwait in the final Group D match at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar early today.

The defeat saw Juan Torres Garrido’s squad finish the campaign at the bottom of the group standings without any points following defeats of 0-2 each to Uzbekistan and Vietnam in the first two matches.

In the match against Kuwait, the rhythm of the Harimau Muda squad was disrupted when they had to play with 10 players after goalkeeper Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman was shown a red card at the end of the first half for fouling Kuwait captain Salman Mohammed outside the penalty box.

Forward Luqman Hakim Shamsudin was sacrificed by Garrido to bring in substitute goalkeeper Muhammad Firdaus Irman Mohd Fadhil.

However, Malaysia fell behind at the end of the extended first half by 15 minutes through a penalty converted by Salman after Muhamad Umar Hakeem Suhar Rezwan was penalised for fouling Talal Al Qaisi following a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.

Muhammad Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi missed the chance to equalise for Malaysia in the 56th minute when he failed to finish a cross from Muhammad Haqimi Azim Rosli before Muhammad Firdaus saved a one-on-one attempt against Salman in the 59th minute.