The Young Tigers will now have to settle for playing in the 11-12th classification match against New Zealand on Friday, while Belgium will face South Africa in the 9-10th classification match on the same day.

Amin Rahim’s team dominated today’s game, launching continuous attacks but failed to capitalise on penalty corner opportunities.

Belgium took advantage of playing against 10 men after Che Nur Aqirullah Che Mohd received a green card. They went on to take the lead through Max Luyten’s field goal in the 28th minute.

The game had to be postponed for about 40 minutes due to heavy rain before Malaysia’s goal was once again breached through a penalty corner by Hugo Labouchere in the 36th minute.

Stunned by the setback, the Young Tigers intensified their game and Adam Ashraf Johar scored a field goal in the 37th minute before Harris Iskandar Osman converted a penalty stroke in the 51st minute.

Malaysia and Belgium then traded attacks but the match ended 2-2, which led to the penalty shootout.

Guillermo Hainaut, Lucas Putters, Victor Foubert, Boris Feldheim, and Nicolas Bogaerts netted for Belgium in the penalty shootout.

Faris Harizan, Mughni Kamal, and Shahmie Irfan Suhaimi were on target for Malaysia while Liau Alfarico missed the final shot for the Young Tigers.

Despite failing to secure ninth place, Amin praised his players for putting up a fierce challenge.

“Praise is due to the players who showed good attacking and defensive play,” he told the media after the match.

“We kept attacking even though we were down 2-0, and we came back to equalise. I think the players showed good fighting spirit and effort.”

In another 9-12th classification match, South Africa defeated New Zealand 4-3 in a penalty shootout after being tied 3-3 in regulation time.