India, Malaysia march into final

09/01/2003

INDIA 4 SOUTH KOREA 0
Gurucharn Singh 1st
Tushar Khandekar 39th, 69th
Vinay 42nd
MALAYSIA 2 PAKISTAN 2
Izwan Hassan 12th, Naeem Akhbar 3rd
Sufian Mohd 45th, Mohamed Imran 55th,
IT WAS a gut-wrenching match, as Malaysia needed a draw while Pakistan a win to reach the final, but in the end, the boys in yellow booked a spot against India in the final of the Four-Nation Under-19 International Invitational at the National Hockey Stadium last night.
The 2-2 draw gave Malaysia five points from three matches while
Pakistan, even with the match against South Korea in hand, only have one.
Malaysia, like the previous matches against Korea and India, came back
from a goal down before seizing the lead. But a determinded Pakistan side
mounted a late strong comeback to force the draw.
India hammered South Korea 4-0 in the other match, and with seven points
from three matches, made the final with ease.
Malaysia lived dangerously by giving the Pakistan forwards too much of
room and the first half was a case of near misses and two disallowed goals
for a frustrated Pakistan.
Naeem Akhbar was given too much space. Before the Malaysians could
settle into the match, he won Pakistan a penalty corner.
The ball was flicked towards goal by Ikhlaq Ahmad, and it rebounded off
Malaysia goalkeeper Khairul Nizam. Naeem slapped in the rebound for
Pakistan's fist goal.
The fighting spirit in the Malaysian side was at its best yesterday as
they went all out in search of the equaliser, but good goalkeeping by
Shakir Muneer frustrated the boys in yellow.
Pakistan were a much-improved side as compared to their first match
against India where. Yesterday, the Pakistan lads looked more confident
and mounted a wave of non-stop attacks which sliced the Malaysian defence.
But Malaysia got back into the match in the 12th minute when Engku
Malek's direct hit during a penalty corner wes deflected over Pakistan
goalkeeper by Izwan Hassan.
Pakistan sounded the board twice after that, but both times the umpire
blew for no goal.
Malaysia never gave Pakistan any chance in the second half. With some
skilfull and well-co-ordinated attacks which iritated the Pakistan
defenders, Ovais Khan was flashed the yellow card for swinging his stick
at Izwan. Izwan, who scored the first goal, limped out, while Ovais was
sent to the sin-bin.
Down to ten men, Pakistan maintain their momentum and in the 45th
minute, Sufian Mohamed took Malaysia closer to the finals with a powerful
penalty corner flick which sailed past goalkeeper Shakir.
But in the 55th minute, Kelvinder Singh made a bad tackle in the
Malaysian semicircle and Pakistan were awarded a penalty corner. Mohamed
Imran snatched the equaliser with a well-placed flick.
Meanwhile, the Indian team went on a rampage yesterday and subdued the
Koreans with physical play only seen at the senior level.
Today: Malaysia v Malaysia Project Squad (6pm); Tomorrow: Malaysia
Project Squad v India (6pm), South Korea v Pakistan (8pm).
Saturday: REST DAY; Sunday: Third-Fourth (3pm), Final (5.30pm).
(END)