Malaysia failed to qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup following a 4-1 defeat to DPR Korea at the I-Mobile Stadium in Buriram, Thailand, on Monday.

Three days after losing by the same scoreline to the Koreans, head coach Nelo Vingada shook things up drastically by fielding no JDT players in his starting line-up.

With the returning Safiq Rahim sitting on the bench, Shahrom Kalam was given the captain's armband and tasked to lead a rather inexperienced team consisting of Nor Azam Azih, Adam Nor Azlin and Ahmad Khairul Anuar.

Kim Yu-song, who scored once from a set-piece situation in Friday's match, showed his aerial prowess again as he guided the ball into the back of the net twice before the 20th minute mark.

The Korea forward then completed his hat-trick in the 44th minute after goalkeeper Hafizul Hakim Khairul Nizam Jothy failed to palm away his tame effort.

Vingada brought on Safiq, along with Fadhli Shas, at the start of the second half, but it did little to improve Malaysia's position as his coaching opposition, Jorn Andersen, was happy with his team passing the ball around.

In the 78th minute, Korea further increased their lead with ​Pak Kwang-ryong easily tapping the ball into an empty net from Ri Un-chol’s low cross.

Safawi Rasid, who scored Malaysia's consolation goal the other day, came off the bench to find the back of the net in the 85th minute with a long-range effort, making the score slightly more respectable at 4-1.

With the defeat, it means Malaysia will finish bottom of Group B regardless of their final group match against Lebanon in March next year.

(Picture: www.asiana.my/Naim Mahamud)