Malaysia still on ground zero

25/03/2003

MALAYSIA suffered their second straight defeat in the Azlan Shah Cup when
they went down 4-2 to New Zealand in Ipoh yesterday.
New Zealand scored three first half goal as Malaysia were in deep
slumber, and in the second half, the hosts tried their best to come back
into the match, but now face the bleak prospect of finishing their
campaign without a win when they meet Germany on Friday.
The way the Malaysians played yesterday, there is no way that they will
be able to win their remaining two matches against Pakistan and Germany
and a sure repeat of the 11th edition in 2001 is in store for them -
finishing last in their own tournament.
It was the old look Malaysia, with that familiar `tidak apa' attitude,
which disappointed the fans who braved an earlier thunderstorm to watch
them play, by letting in two soft goals even before the first quarter of
the match ended.
The first was off a sixth minute penalty corner awarded after Azlan
Misron stopped the ball with his boots in the semi-circle. Kiwi Hayden
Shaw took a low flick which beat goalkeeper S. Kumar.
Fired by the easy goal, the Kiwis mounted a wave of attacks and in the
11th minute, Mitesh Patel took a shot from the top of the semi-circle and
it went past a rooted Kumar. Even Mitesh was stunned for a while, and
looked at the umpire for confirmation before jumping for joy.
Malaysia could do nothing right for the next 10 minutes as even
established players with a string of caps to their names were giving away
posession.
New Zealand had numerous opportunities to score but they were plain
unlucky, and the crowd could sense a disaster in the making when Kiwi
Philip Burrows missed an open goal to give Malaysia a whisker of a chance
of getting back into the match.
Malaysia received their first penalty corner in the 29th minute and the
Kiwis, as well as the crowd which chanted Kuhan's name, expected the
skipper to take the flick, but Mohamed Amin Rahim brought back the cheers
with a low flick, which shook the goalmouth.
But the joy was short-lived as Malaysia gave away the second penalty
corner in the 34th minute and Shaw kept his record 100 per cent clean by,
again, catching Kumar napping. Coach Paul Lissek should have replaced him
with Roslan Jamaluddin out on the spot, but the half-time horn blew just
then.
Lissek still had his faith in the young goalkeeper and upon resumption,
Kumar was still between the posts as Malaysia try to find their rhythm.
As the clock ticked away at a furious pace, Malaysia also picked up
their match but the ball whizzed to the left and right of the Kiwi
goalmouth, and the score stood at 3-1.
Keevan Raj, the coolest of the lot, was flashed a green card for rough
play in the 49th minute but he still kept his head, and when the umpire
blew to resume the match, Keevan took a thundering shot from the 25-yard-
line and Riduan Nasir, standing beside the Kiwi goalkeeper, tapped it in
and Malaysia now had an outside chance for at least a draw.
Malaysia fought hard and won their second penalty corner of the match in
the 55th minute but goalkeeper Woolford saved Kuhan's low flick with 10
minutes of play left. But New Zealand had other plans and a 70th minute
Umesh Pagrag goal made sure they kept the full points.
Fixtures - Today: REST DAY; Tomorrow: New Zealand v S Korea (6pm);
Pakistan v Malaysia (8pm).
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
MALAYSIA 2 NEW ZEALAND 4
Mohamed Amin Rahim (29th) Hayden Shaw (6th, 34th)
Riduan Nasir (50th) Mitesh Patel (11th)
Umesh Parag (70th)
GERMANY 2 SOUTH KOREA 0
Timo Wess (41st)
Max Landshut (47th)
(END)