The result of the match means that the national under-23 squad advances to the knockout stage as Group B champions.

The national team had earlier fought to a 2-2 draw against Singapore at the same venue, forcing Malaysia to wait for the results of the Thailand-Cambodia clash to see if they would advance.

Current Group B standings place Malaysia at the top with seven points after three matches, with Thailand second with six points, and only in need of a draw to join the national team in the semi-finals.

The national squad beat Thailand 2-1 and Laos 3-1 in their first two Group B matches.

Malaysia last won the SEA Games gold medal in 2011 while under Ong Kim Swee. Their best showing after that was runners-up, taking the silver in Kuala Lumpur, but were eliminated in the group stage in the Philippines two years later.