Malaysia let off easy by Pakistan

16/01/2002

Pakistan ......... 2 Malaysia ............... 1
Shahbaz Ahmad (13th) Maninderjit Singh (50th)
Sohail Abbas (35th)
MALAYSIA, playing well below their best in this friendly match against
Pakistan at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil, were let off the
hook by the visitors yesterday.
Shahbaz Ahmad scored his first international goal after a three-year
retirement.
Shahbaz was drafted into the Pakistan squad for November's Champions
Trophy in Rotterdam but he failed to shine. Many believed it was a mistake
to include him in the preparations for the 2002 Kuala Lumpur World Cup.
The veteran striker capitalised on a weak backpass by Malaysian skipper
Mirnawan Nawawi in the 13th minute and a one-two with Kashif Jawed was
enough to beat goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin.
Malaysia moved up a notch after falling back but could not get things
right in the semicircle and up till the 30th minute, failed to win a
penalty corner or trouble the Pakistan goalkeeper.
In the absence of S. Kuhan who is still recovering from a hamstring
injury suffered during training, S. Shanker and Jiwa Mohan took turns to
marshal the midfield.
Pakistan won their first penalty corner in the 35th minute and all eyes
were on Sohail Abbas, who did not not disappoint the 100-odd crowd with a
powerfull drag flick which crashed into the back of the net to make it 2-
0.
Malaysia lacked shape in attack and their defence was nothing like the
team which played in the first three matches of the Champions Challenge.
Mirnawan Nawawi was struggling to find his rhythm while the rest were
running around aimlessly. There was nothing to suggest that this was the
team preparing for the World Cup in just over a month.
In the second half, Malaysia improved but still lacked urgency.
Malaysia's first penalty corner, which came in the 43rd minute, was wasted
when Chua Boon Huat flicked high into the stands.
A minute later Pakistan won a penalty corner but this time Sohail
flicked over the bar.
Maninderjit Singh was Malaysia's saving grace when he scored with a
direct hit in the 50th minute following a penalty corner as the complacent
Pakistanis adopted a laidback attitude.
Malaysia and Pakistan meet again today at the same venue at 8pm for a
second friendly before the Six-Nation begins on Friday.
jugjet@nstp.com.my
(END)