KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia fought like tigers and deserved at least a point against world 89 Bahrain in today's Asian Cup Group E qualifier.
But Bahrain stole all three points when they scored from the penalty spot nine minutes from time to win 2-1 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
The referee awarded a penalty after captain and goalkeeper Farizal Marlias brought down a Bahrain player inside the Malaysian penalty box.
National coach Kim Pan Gon made five changes from his line-up that beat Turkmenistan 3-1 on Wednesday, by starting Mohamadou Sumareh, Nazmi Faiz Mansor, Akhyar Rashid, Ahmad Khuzaimi Piee and Junior Eldstal.
Both teams were struggling to take control of the match on the water-logged pitch from heavy rainfall before the game.
World No 154 Malaysia had three chances to score in the first half with Akhyar coming closest in the 30th minute. However his attempt was blocked by Bahrain goalkeeper Sayed Mohamed Abas.
Winger Sumareh broke the deadlock for Malaysia in the 54th minute after turning in a Khuzaimie cross from the left.
However, the lead only lasted for three minutes as Bahrain drew level after Ali Abdula Haram scored from a melee in the 57th minute.
Pan Gon introduced Safiq Rahim, Guilherme De Paula, Arif Aiman Hanapi and Syafiq Ahmad in different periods of the second half in search of a second goal.
However, just when everyone felt Malaysia had done enough to earn a point, goalkeeper Farizal brought down Bahrain's Ali Jaafar Madam inside the penalty box in the 81st minute.
Abdulla Yusuf Helal stepped up and scored from the spot.
Bahrain held their nerves until the final minute to secure their second win in the qualifiers.
Bahrain lead Group E with six points, three more than Malaysia and Turkmenistan. Bangladesh are bottom after two defeats.
Malaysia coach Kim Pan Gon said: "There were some mistakes that we couldn't correct, but these are things we learn from. We had wanted to get at least one point.
"Football is about how much we learn and we move on.
"We should keep our heads up and prepare for the next game."
Bahrain coach Helio Sousa said like he had predicted, it was a tough match for the Middle East team against Malaysia.
He added that Malaysia's 154th world ranking does not reflect the quality of the home team.
Sousa, who has coached Bahrain since 2019, said his men had trained to stay cool and work on a comeback if they trail their opponents, like when Malaysia took the lead.
However, the Portuguese coach was not too pleased with the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) decision to hold six games of the Asian Cup Group E qualifiers at just one venue.
In reference to the pitch condition at Bukit Jalil, Sousa said: "I have had some talk with AFC members, not about Malaysia, but the fact that AFC could demand more because football has changed within the last 20-30 years. Requesting six games in one stadium, it's hard to do and at this moment, it rains.
"I am not saying the conditions in this country are not fantastic, the fans here are amazing but the Bahrain national team deserve to have a full (proper) stadium (to play and train in), and you don't have it. The Malaysia team also deserve to have full facilities for what they are doing. AFC can adapt to football changes."
Malaysia will play their final qualifier against Bangladesh on Tuesday.
