Syahir Bashah marked his international debut with a goal as Malaysia secured a 6-0 victory over Singapore in the FIFA ASEAN Cup group stage match on Thursday at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung. The 25-year-old midfielder came off the bench in the 79th minute, replacing Arif Aiman Hanapi, and found the net eight minutes later to score Malaysia’s fifth goal.
Despite the comprehensive win, Malaysia was unable to advance to the final, finishing level on four points with Indonesia in Group A but falling short on goal difference. Earlier in the day, Indonesia delivered a commanding 9-2 win over Bangladesh at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, securing the top spot in the group. Indonesia will face Group B winners Thailand in the final, while Malaysia will play Vietnam in the bronze-medal playoff scheduled for Monday.
Syahir expressed gratitude for the opportunity to debut for the national team and credited his teammates for their collective effort. “It was a blessing to score my debut goal. Credit goes to my teammates who worked extremely hard,” he said. “Thanks to coach Tan Cheng Hoe for giving me the chance to represent my country. Playing for Malaysia has always been a dream.” He also highlighted the strong on-field chemistry as a key factor in his performance. Syahir noted the difference in intensity between club and international football but said the support of his teammates helped him adapt quickly.
The match also featured a hat-trick from striker Bergson Da Silva, who opened the scoring in the eighth minute from a penalty awarded after Singapore fouled winger Fergus Tierney in the box. Stuart Wilkin doubled the lead in the 26th minute, followed by Da Silva’s second goal in the 62nd minute and Paulo Josue adding a fourth in the 76th minute. Da Silva completed his hat-trick with a stoppage-time goal to wrap up the scoring.
Josue remarked on the significance of the victory, noting it was Malaysia’s largest margin of victory over Singapore in decades. “The last time we beat Singapore by such a big margin was around 40 or 50 years ago, so we should be proud of this achievement,” he said. “We are moving in the right direction.”
Malaysia will face an injury setback ahead of the bronze-medal playoff, with winger Faisal Halim ruled out due to a calf muscle tear. Coach Tan Cheng Hoe confirmed that Faisal would miss the upcoming match but expressed confidence in the medical team’s efforts to support his recovery. “As a team, we will certainly miss Faisal’s presence,” Tan said.
Syahir also credited his wife, who was present at the stadium, for her support during his debut. “Besides my family, my wife has supported me from the very beginning. I’m happy she was able to watch me play and score,” he added.
The bronze-medal match between Malaysia and Vietnam and the final between Indonesia and Thailand are set to take place on Monday, concluding the tournament’s knockout phase.