SATV March 26, Kathmandu: Matt Ross' Nepal suffered a setback, losing 2-0 to Malaysia in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round Group F match at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Johor, on Tuesday.

Hector Hevel marked his international debut in style, scoring the opener, while Corbin Ong sealed the game with a second goal. It was a strong start to a new era for Malaysia under head coach Peter Cklamovski.

Malaysia dominated from the kick-off and broke the deadlock in the 30th minute. Hevel’s strike from outside the box took a deflection, leaving Nepal’s goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong helpless. In the 70th minute, a well-executed free-kick routine saw Arif set up Ong, who calmly slotted home to 

double the lead. Nepal entered the match on a high after a historic friendly win over Singapore. Despite the loss, head coach Ross remained optimistic, vowing to improve ahead of their June clash with Laos.

“We struggled with Malaysia’s speed and technical skill,” Ross admitted. “But as the game went on, we moved the ball better and created some chances. Overall, Malaysia deserved the win. We’ve learned a lot from both the Singapore and Malaysia games. You’ll see a better performance in June.”

Rejin Subba made a debut for Nepal.