Azfar Fikri Azhar wasn't supposed to play in the AFC Under-23 qualifiers in Mongolia.
But an injury to JDT III player Ahmad Aysar Hadi Shapri led to Azfar's late call-up, just before the team left for Ulaanbaatar on Oct 20.
Yet, the 21-year-old Terengganu II player turned out to be a revelation, even outshining the Belgian-based Luqman Hakim Shamsudin who has yet score in the Mongolian capital.
The predatory Azfar grabbed two goals as Malaysia won two matches.
On Monday, he struck the winner in the 68th minute as Malaysia beat Laos 1-0, and yesterday, he was on target again in the 40th minute in the 1-0 win over Mongolia at the MFF Football Centre.
The KL-born Azfar is now one of nine players who have scored two goals at the AFC Under-23 qualifiers.
And thanks to Azfar's heroics, Malaysia have topped Group J, and a win over Thailand on Sunday will assure Brad Maloney's boys a place in the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan next year.
"I was so happy and excited to have received that (late) call-up," said Azfar.
"I have always been hoping for such an opportunity. This is my first time for Malaysia. I want to fully make use of this competition," he added.
Azfar said he felt motivated after reading netizens' comments about his performance.
He also thanked his father, Azhar Abdul Aziz, and mother, Mariam Md Ismail, for their support as they always turn up for his M-League matches.
Coach Maloney said: "Mongolia came out very competitive and very physical but we stuck to our game plan. We played the way we wanted to play and got the reward.
"We could have gotten two to three more goals, hit the woodwork,
but we're satisfied with the three points.
"We expected a lot of pressure but we could control the game and tempo. We did well at times, waited for openings."
