The Malaysia men's Under-23 football team's 2018 Asian Games campaign concluded after they lost 1-0 to Japan in the Round of 16 on Friday.

Ayase Ueda scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the 89th minute after Malaysia defender Dominic Tan was adjudged to bring him down in the area.



It was an unlucky blow for Ong Kim Swee's boys, who defended well for the majority of the match and looked set to take the game into extra time at the Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium.

Furthermore, minutes before conceding the penalty, Safawi Rasid, Malaysia's top scorer with four goals, had two golden opportunities to put his side ahead, one from a free-kick situation and the other a strike from outside the box, but both efforts were denied by the goal frame.



With the defeat, it ended the young Tigers' dream run in Indonesia, which included a win over defending champions Korea Republic in the group stage.

This year's edition was only the fourth time they progressed to the knockout stage since competing as Malaysia in 1966, and the second time since an age limit was set in 2002.

As for Japan, they will next face Arab Saudi in the quarter-finals after the latter defeated China 4-3.

On the same day, hosts Indonesia were knocked out 4-3 on penalties by the United Arab Emirates after drawing 2-2, while DPR Korea squeezed past Bangladesh with a 2-1 win.