KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia striker Paulo Josue (pic) did not try to escape the moment.

Under the floodlights at Bukit Jalil after Malaysia’s 1-0 win over Nepal in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 third-round qualifiers, the veteran forward walked toward the cameras with the honesty of a man who knew exactly where the conversation would start – the missed penalty he sent over the bar in the dying minutes.