Malaysia down Bangladesh to join Bahrain at Asian Cup finals

HONG KONG: Malaysia handed Bangladesh a 4-1 thrashing in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday to join Bahrain in securing qualification for next year's Asian Cup finals.

Bahrain sealed top spot in Group E with a 1-0 win over Turkmenistan, while Malaysia claimed one of the five berths available to the best runners-up in the preliminaries with their comprehensive win over Bangladesh.

The Malaysians, who co-hosted the Asian Cup in 2007, wrapped up a spot through the qualifiers for the first time since 1980 thanks to second-half goals from Syafiq Ahmad and Darren Lok.

Safawi Rashid had given Malaysia the lead with a penalty in the 16th minute only for Mohammad Ibrahim to level for Bangladesh 15 minutes later.

Dion Cools struck seven minutes before the interval to give Kim Pan-gon's side a halftime lead and Syafiq and Lok put the result beyond doubt after the restart.

Abdulla Yusuf Helal's penalty earned Bahrain victory over Turkmenistan as the Gulf side finished with three wins from three games.

Bahrain and Malaysia join Group B winners Palestine as well as Uzbekistan, Thailand, India, Hong Kong, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in advancing to the finals.

Palestine secured first place in Group B earlier on Tuesday with a 4-0 thumping of the Philippines, while Uzbekistan ensured they finish top of Group C with a 2-0 win over second-placed Thailand.

Jaloliddin Masharipov put the Uzbeks in front after eight minutes and Azizbek Turgunboev's goal midway through the first half sealed the win.

India took top spot in Group D with a 4-0 win over Hong Kong, who also advanced as second-place finishers.

Anwar Ali gave Igor Stimac's India side the lead inside the first minute as he fired into the roof of the net before Sunil Chhetri scored his 84th international