Malaysia win again!

11/12/2001

MALAYSIA turned on the brilliance in the second half to beat India 2-1 in
a Champions Challenge match at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil
yesterday.
With their third straight win, Malaysia have collected nine points and
one leg is almost in the final.
The Malaysians, who started with total ball control and coupled with
beautiful passes from the right to the left, did not allow the Indians to
come into the match for the first 10 minutes.
Malaysia nearly got an early break in the seventh minute when Rodhanizam
Radzi connected a pass from Madzli Ikmar but India's goalkeeper Jude
Menezes was positioned well to palm it away.
A minute later, the hosts won their first penalty corner but looked
nervous even before the push. They bungled the set-piece due to poor
understanding between Chua Boon Huat and Maninderjit Singh.
India were totally shut out and looked like pedestrians as Malaysia
controlled play with some accurate passing in midfield. It looked as if
Malaysia were going to have another solid match.
But in the 14th minute, Madzli Ikmar diced with danger as he ran with
the ball across the Malaysian goalmouth with Dhanaraj Pillay hot on his
heels. It was to his good fortune that he kept his cool and the deadly
Dhanaraj failed to steal the ball.
A minute later, K. Keevan Raj was flashed the yellow card for a tough
tackle on Indian skipper Baljit Singh. Malaysia were down to 10-men and
India took advantage and started attacking in numbers.
The Indians regained their cofidence and in the 22nd minute Jiwa Mohan's
mistake in midfield cost Malaysia dearly.
Jiwa lost the ball while trying to dribble past Prabhjot Singh and the
Indian Junior World Cup player made a dash for goal and after a 1-2 with
Deepak Thakur, beat Malaysian goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin.
All hell broke loose after that and the Malaysian defence crumbled but
poor finishing by Dhanaraj and Prabhjot saved Malaysia from falling
further behind.
The rattled Malaysians were losing possession easily after the goal and
India tightened their grip on the match but the first half ended with
Malaysia still having a fighting chance.
In the second half, India pinned Malaysia back for long periods and
there was nothing the hosts could do but defend in numbers.
In the 45th minute, Baljit Singh won a penalty corner for India and the
Malaysians lost their cool and for the first time, after two matches in
the Champions Challenge, they crowded the umpire and protested.
Baljit's push was saved by goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin and in a fast
counter attack, K. Keevan Raj and Rodhanizam Radzi reached the Indian
semicircle but lost the ball easily.
Suddenly there was more urgency in the Malaysians' play and when Indian
skipper Baljit Singh was sent to the sin bin for rough play, the tables
were turned.
In the 50th minute, Maninderjit, who was on the Indian 25-yard line,
slammed a thundering shot which hit the stick of an Indian defender and
deflected to Chua Boon Huat who hammered in the much-needed equaliser.
The goal was the spark and suddenly Malaysia were putting their heart
and soul into the match. The only Indian attack until the 55th minute came
when Deepak Thakur made a solo run and pushed the ball between Roslan's
pads, but it went out.
In the 60th minute, the Deepak-Dhanaraj combination ran circles around
the Malaysian defence and they were rewarded with a penalty stroke.
Jugraj Singh stepped up to take the flick but Roslan did not have much
to do as his low shot hit the post.
Malaysia took control of the match again and a minute later found
themselves with a penalty corner.
Keevan pushed the ball in and S. Kuhan took a shot which deflected off
goalkeeper Menezes. Keevan pounced on the rebound to give Malaysia the
lead.
In the last five minutes Daljit and Prabhjot dazzled with some dangerous
1-2 moves which mesmerised the crowd but a confident Roslan stood his
ground much to the relief of the Malaysians.
Malaysia's German coach Paul Lissek and his Indian counterpart Cedric
D'Souza during the press conference agreed that apart from Malaysia,
hockey was also a winner.
"My players had plenty of chances, even a penalty frick, but Malaysia
took theirs well and they deserved to win. In the end, the attacking game
that we witnessed today (yesterday) is what hockey needs to win more
support from the crowd," said Cedric.
Lissek said: "It is always difficult to beat India and to win against
them, one needs an element of luck.
"Malaysia rarely made mistakes during the match and I am happy that the
players had a good understanding of each other today."
jugjet@nstp.com.my
RESULTS
Japan ................ 3 South Africa ...... 2
Ryuji Furusato (25th) Mike Cullen (8th)
Takahiko Yamabori (51st) Justin King (43rd)
Naohiko Tobita (58th)
Argentina ............ 3 Belgium ........... 1
Mario Almada (5th, 51st) Fabian Berger (18th)
Santiago Capurro (11th)
Malaysia ............. 2 India ............. 1
Chua Boon Huat (50th) Prabhjot Singh (22nd)
K. Keevan Raj (61st)
(END)