Malaysians buckle under pressure

27/03/2003

MALAYSIA were beaten 3-1 by Pakistan yesterday but there was no shame in
the defeat as the hosts put their heart into the match to redeem their
sagging pride in the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh yesterday.
Pakistan only managed four penalty corners for the duration of the
match, but scored three goals off them. Malaysia bungled seven of theirs.
That was the only difference between the two teams yesterday.
The fans came in droves to support the national team hoping for a
miracle, but in the third minute Pakistan dealt a severe blow.
Pakistan were awarded a penalty corner even though it was a raised ball
which hit Nor Azlan Bakar's foot, and Sohail Abbas' low flick beat
goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin who was fielded for the first time in the
tournament.
Roslan made up for it by saving a seventh minute raised shot from
Dilawar Hussain and Malaysia got back into top gear in the next 20 minutes
but it was a case of near misses.
Megat Azrafiq, who had a nightmare outing against Pakistan in the Busan
Asian Games, was a pillar of confidence, but unfortunately, suffered a
hard knock and was back on the bench.
Only one penalty corner came Malaysia's way but it was a wasted effort
as S. Kuhan was slow to flick, and the first runner stole the ball from
him.
Malaysia were playing at a furious pace cheered on by the 3,000-odd
fans, but in the dying minutes of the first half, a blunder by Roslan
allowed Pakistan a second goal.
It was Pakistan's second penalty corner and before their pusher could
send the ball in, Roslan ran towards Sohail, and the umpire blew for
another penalty corner.
Roslan, knowing the Pakistanis would be waiting for him to run towards
them, did exactly that to the amazement of the crowd.
All Sohail had to do was push the ball to his right to Ali Reza, who,
facing an open goalmouth, blasted the ball in.
The hosts went into the dressing room with their heads hung low, knowing
that they face the challenge of their lives, even to pull off a draw.
Chua Boon Huat had a golden opportunity to put Malaysia back in the
match but Pakistan goalkeeper Ahmad Alam managed to stop both his reverse
stick shots, one from a very acute angle.
As the clocked ticked, Malaysia did well not to allow any more goals,
but any hope of a draw was fast fading.
In the 48th minute, Malaysia attacked in numbers and even though the
first shot from Saiful Azli was parried away by goalkeeper Ahmad Alam,
Shaiful Azli scored from a goalmouth melee and the match was thrown wide
open again.
A minute later, Shaiful's shot hit the post and the Pakistanis were
shaken up but still gave Malaysia very little space to move.
Megat, who came back in the second half, gave away a penalty corner in
the 58th minute and Sohail punished him.
Malaysia received two more penalty corners in the last five minutes of
play but nothing came out of them. RESULTS
MALAYSIA 1 PAKISTAN 3
Shaiful Azli (48th) Sohail Abbas (3rd, 58th)
Ali Raza (34th)
NEW ZEALAND 3 SOUTH KOREA 2
Bevan Hari (2nd) Seo Jong Ho (16th)
Hayden Shaw (40th) Jang Jong Hyun (69th)
Phillip Burrows (48th)
(END)