Malaysia midfielder questions Indonesia's final berth: 'Very hard to believe

GELORA BUNG KARNO (JAKARTA, INDONESIA) & SI JALAK HARUPAT (BANDUNG, INDONESIA), 4 OCTOBER 2026 —

Paulo Josue, a midfielder for Kuala Lumpur City, expressed disbelief after Indonesia’s 9‑2 victory over Bangladesh in the final Group A match of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, played at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) on Thursday, 1 October.

Indonesia’s triumph came after a 7‑2 lead at half‑time, and the team added two more goals in the dying seconds to finish 9‑2. The result meant that Indonesia advanced to the final, while Malaysia, despite a 6‑0 win over Singapore at Si Jalak Harupat in Bandung, could only finish second in Group A.

The competition rules required both teams to win by a large margin in the final group match to reach the final, a condition Indonesia met but Malaysia did not.

In a post‑match interview quoted by NST, Josue said, “It seems Indonesia scored nine goals – something that is very hard to believe that the opponents conceded nine goals in a tournament like that, but that is the reality.” He added that the Malaysian side had followed the coach’s instructions and scored the necessary goals, but that the effort was not enough to overcome Indonesia’s late surge.

“Today is a match where we had to score goals and win; we did score many goals, but unfortunately that was not enough,” Josue continued. He also urged the Malaysian team to move past the disappointment and focus on the third‑place playoff against Vietnam, saying, “So we must remain upright and look at the next match, and try to finish it with the best possible result.”

The match at GBK was the decisive game for Group A, where Indonesia and Malaysia were the only teams capable of reaching the final. Indonesia’s 9‑2 win over Bangladesh, achieved in the final minutes, was a dramatic finish that secured their spot in the final, while Malaysia’s earlier 6‑0 victory over Singapore had left them only as runners‑up.

The outcome of the group stage meant that Indonesia would face the winner of Group B in the final, while Malaysia would contest the third‑place match against Vietnam.

The tournament’s format required both Indonesia and Malaysia to win by a large margin in the last group match to advance. Indonesia’s late goals fulfilled that requirement, whereas Malaysia’s earlier victory was insufficient. The result has implications for the teams’ standings and future fixtures, with Indonesia moving forward to the final and Malaysia preparing for a third‑place contest.

Paulo Josue’s comments reflect the emotional impact of the match on the Malaysian side. He acknowledged the team’s effort and adherence to the coach’s plan, yet highlighted the disappointment of not achieving the necessary margin. His remarks also emphasize the need for the team to regroup and focus on the next challenge against Vietnam.

The outcome of the group stage has set the stage for the final stages of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, with Indonesia advancing to the final and Malaysia preparing for the third‑place match. The dramatic finish at GBK has underscored the intensity of the competition and the high stakes for the teams involved.