It's the same old story

14/12/2001

MALAYSIA gave everything they had in the final 10 minutes of the match but
South Africa defended well and will meet India in the final of the
Champions Challenge at the national hockey stadium in Bukit Jalil on
Saturday.
Malaysia had everything going their way but an arrogant and foolish move
by Chua Boon Huat in the 38th minute saw him being sent to the sin bin and
it was all over from that moment onwards.
In the other match of the day, India beat Argentina 2-1 and it looks
like it is going to be a tough final for them as well because in the
classification matches, India and South Africa drew 2-2.
Malaysia started aggressively in the first five minutes but poor
finishing denied them an early lead although they controlled the match
with superb passing from left to right.
And in the third minute itself, they won their first penalty corner when
Mirnawan Nawawi was tripped after receiving a through ball from Chua. But
S.Kuhan's powerful flick was well saved by South African goalkeeper Chris
Hibbert.
South Africa executed a deadly counter-attack after the restart and won
a penalty corner a minute later but Roslan Jamaluddin was in his element
and made a diving save which pleased the crowd at the National Hockey
Stadium.
That was the start of South Africa's wave of attacks but Roslan stood
his ground and pulled off three stunning saves when South Africa were
awarded three consecutive penalty corners in the 10th minute.
But after that, Malaysia took charge again and so confident were they
that in a free hit in the 13th minute, Maninderjit Singh pushed the ball
from the top of the semicircle to Nor Azlan Bakar who was standing on the
goalline with Roslan. But South Africa could not capitalise on the
situation because other than Mike Cullen, they lacked speedy forwards.
S.Kuhan was never in the match and it looked like he never recovered
from the penalty stroke which he missed against Argentina on Wednesday. He
was substituted with K. Gobinathan for about 10 minutes but when he came
in he was still too shaky and that was the reason why the midfield did not
work well in the first half.
The only good attack from Malaysia was in the 28th minute when Chua who
had a great game, made a cross which sliced past a multitude of South
African players but at the end of the line, Tajol Rosli and Chairil Anwar
failed to convert it as well.
In the second half, Chua made the silliest of mistakes by pushing away a
South African defender's stick during a free hit and umpire Jason
Mccracken hauled him up and sent him to the sin bin in the 38th minute.
Chua's folly was South Africa's gain as they started attacking with more
confidence.
And in the 42nd minute, South Africa made a superb penalty corner dummy
and Cullen's powerful reverse stick shot went crashing into the back of
the goalmouth and edged them closer to the Champions Challenge final.
Chua was still sitting comfortable in the sin bin while his teammates
were being punished by a disciplined South African side.
Malaysia played with vengence and were attacking non stop in the 50th
minute but South African goalkeeper Chris Hibbert stopped all goalbound
attempts.
In the 57th minute, a hard earned penalty corner was again stopped by
Hibbert but Malaysia never let up the pressure and played their best ever
attacking game in the Challenge but were still a goal down.
In the 59th minute, Marvin Bam was shown the yellow card and if Malaysia
want to salvage the match, it was then or never.
In the 63rd minute, Malaysia again won a penalty corner but the night
looked like it belonged to goalkeeper Hibbert. A minute later another
penalty corner was awarded and again Hibbert got the tip of his stick in
and saved it.
In the last few minutes, Malaysia never allowed South Africa to come out
of their own semicircle but in their desperation to score they missed more
than 15 clear chances and ended up playing for the 3rd-4th placing match
against Argentina on Saturday.
jugjet@nstp.com.my RESULTS
Malaysia .................... 0 South Africa .......... 1
Mike Cullen (42nd)
India ....................... 2 Argentina ............. 2
Jugraj Singh (26th) Tomas Mac Cormick (15th)
Gagan Ajit Singh (33rd)
Japan ....................... 6 Belgium ............... 2
Kenichi Katayama (6th) Jean P. Brule (8th, 39th)
Fumihiro Matsui (41st)
Naohiko Tobita (43rd,pen, 61st)
Ryuji Furusato (50th)
Naoya Iwadate (63rd)
(END)