SINGAPORE, June 11 — The Malaysian Under-23 football squad ended their 2015 SEA Games campaign with a comfortable 3-1 win over Laos in their final Group B match at the Bishan Stadium tonight.

The result saved the blushes of the squad managed by Datuk Ong Kim Swee, which was heavily criticised by fans after losing out on a semi-final berth in the tournament.

The night did not begin well for Malaysia, after Soukchinda Natphasouk put Laos ahead in the 22nd minute, but Muhammad Syafiq Ahmad struck the equaliser in the 41st minute as both teams headed into the break tied at 1-1.

Laos came out from the break looking more aggressive but Kim Swee’s boys kept their cool and took the lead in the 70th minute through Saiful Ridzuwan Selamat’s header off a free kick before Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim tapped in the third goal from a cross 10 minutes later.

Defending champions Thailand and Vietnam advanced to the semi-finals after finishing first and second in Group B while Myanmar and Indonesia made it to the semifinals from Group A. Indonesia beat host Singapore 1-0 to secure their berth in the semifinal. — Bernama