Merely getting to grips

07/06/2002

AUSTRALIA 4 MALAYSIA 1
INDIA 2 KOREA 0
THE young Malaysian side have finally started to play as a team and
troubled the Kuala Lumpur World Cup silver medallists in the Four-Nation
at the State Hockey Centre in Melbourne last night.
In the first leg in Adelaide, Malaysia lost 6-2 to Australia, but
yesterday the national side put up a gritty display and narrowed the
defeat to 4-1.
In the first half, Malaysia held a tight grip on the game and the score
was level as they went into the dressing room.
Australia scored early through penalty corner specialist Troy Elder who
flicked low into the net in the third minute of play, but the Aussies were
unable to add to their tally in the first half as Malaysia took control of
the match.
The national side replied in the 33rd minute from a field goal by
Chairil Anwar and the match was wide open again.
"The boys had a good defensive game in the first half but they lost out
to the more experienced Aussies when push came to shove.
"However, I am very happy with the way the national team is progressing
in the Four-Nation because we lost all our matches in the first leg but
have managed to get back with a win over India (3-2) and today (yesterday)
narrowed the gap against Australia," said team manager Yahya Atan.
Malaysia next meet South Korea (who won 3-0 in the first leg) on
Saturday and it will be a crucial match to determine how far the national
side has progressed after sporting a new and young look with the
retirement of Mirnawan Nawawi, S. Shanker, Maninderjit Singh, Nashihin
Nubli and Nor Azlan Bakar.
Nine minutes into the second half, a lapse of concentration allowed
Andrew Smith to score a field goal. The move was initiated by Bevan George
who made a cross into the semicircle and the ball deflected off a
Malaysian defender's stick and Smith smashed the ball into the net.
Eight minutes later Smith scored again when he converted a penalty
corner flick.
And in the final minute of play, Nathan Eglington pounced on a penalty
corner rebound for Australia's fourth goal.
Melbourne - Today: REST DAY: June 8: South Korea v Malaysia, Australia v
India; June 9: third-fourth and final.
(END)