We finish among the rest

28/03/2003

MALAYSIA had nothing to lose and played their best match of the Azlan Shah
Cup against Germany and went down fighting to the World Champions.
The Malaysian camp was better organised and more committed, but too many
misses in front of the goalmouth handed the match on a silver platter to
Germany.
Malaysia's tournament ended yesterday, and the hosts finished last as
there was no fifth-sixth playoff due to India's withdrawal.
The Malaysian players were not scared of Germany and Megat Azrafiq gave
an early indication of what was in store when he shoved Sascha Reinelt in
the fourth minute, but gave away a penalty corner in the process.
Roslan Jamaluddin was in terrific form yesterday, and palmed away the
ball and the feeling at the stadium was that Malaysia are going to give
the Germans hell for the duration of the match.
Skipper S. Kuhan and the more experienced players Nor Azlan Bakar, Chua
Boon Huat, K. Keevan Raj, Tajol Rosli and Shaiful Azli were like men
possessed with a mission, and they played like heroes in the first half.
Germany got frustrated as the minutes raced by and started making
mistakes, which were snatched by the rejuvenated Malaysian side.
Three clear chances went to waste in the first half, as Tajol, P.
Prabahkaran and Azlan Misron got in each other's way eventhough the
goalmouth was wide open.
It was a day of goalkeepers, as even German Clemens Arnold was in fiery
form and kept his teammates in the game.
The best chance was in the 25th minute when Nor Azlan Bakar sent in a
cross from the 25-yard-line and found Tajol and Prabha facing Clemens, but
both the Malaysian players got into each other's way and Germans were let
off the hook.
The first half tension in the German camp was on display when their
coach Bernhard Peters jumped over the fence separating the bench and the
turf and screamed at his players for letting Malaysia take control of the
match.
When the second half resumed, Malaysia kept up the good work and kept
the crowd at the edge of their seats with near misses, while the Germans
were so well marked that they could do nothing right.
The best chance was in the 50th minute when Riduan Nasir sent in the
ball from just outside the semi-circle, but Azlan Misron's deflection
screamed centimeters over the bar.
The Germans hardly got a chance to enter the Malaysian semi-circle in
the second half as Kuhan and Megat kept a tight reign. But Malaysia were
unlucky to give away a penalty corner in the 56th minute, which was tucked
away by Justus Scharowsky.
Malaysia received a break four minutes later when Sebastian Bierderlack
was sent to the sin bin for rough play. But as the match resumed, Kuhan
hooked Reinelt from the back, and was also sent out.
Prabahkaran wore the skipper's armband, but before the match could get
underway, Nor Azlan Bakar received a knock and was substituted with a
bleeding nose.
Malaysia were in a very tight spot, one goal down against the World
Champions, and have to play the remaining eight minutes without two
leading defenders - Kuhan and Nor Azlan Bakar.
In their place, the young brigade of Megat and Wan Asyrizal were
bombarded non-stop by the German forwards and Christoph Bechmamm got his
name on the scorecard.
Nor Azlan and Kuhan came back into the match and the crowd went wild
when Azlan Misron scored off a deflection, but there was not enough time
for the equaliser.
AT A GLANCE
MALAYSIA .......1 GERMANY ........2
(END)