MALAYSIA will play the 2019 AFC Asian Cup group B qualifying matches against North Korea at a neutral venue next month, said the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

AFC general secretary Paul Windsor John said the confederation was pleased that the two member associations had agreed to the arrangement after much discussion.

“Playing in this way, and in this order, helps us protect the sporting principles of the Asian Cup final qualifying round.”

According to the statement, the order of the matches is maintained as previously announced to protect the sporting integrity of the competition.

“In the interest of competition fairness, it has been decided that both matches between the two countries will be played at the same neutral venue, with North Korea’s ‘home’ match taking place on November 10 and the return fixture, Malaysia’s ‘home’ game, on November 13.”

The match was initially scheduled for March 28 in Pyongyang and was later postponed to June 8, following strained diplomatic relations between North Korea and Malaysia after the murder of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at klia2 on February 13.

The match was once again postponed to October 5, just five days before a match against Hong Kong on October 10.

Malaysia, which opened the 2019 AFC qualifying campaign with a 1-2 loss to Lebanon on June 13 at Larkin Stadium, held Hong Kong to a 1-1 draw at Hang Jebat Stadium on September 5 before losing 0-2 to Hong Kong at Hong Kong Stadium on October 10.

The team is at the bottom of group B, with one point.

Lebanon is at the top the group with 10 points, followed by North Korea and Hong Kong.

With three matches remaining, Malaysia needs to finish among the top two teams in the group to qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, scheduled to be held in the United Arab Emirates in 2019 from January 5 to February 1. – Bernama, October 20, 2017.