TENSED MALAYSIANS: (From Left) goalkeepers coach Shahid Ali Khan, juniors coach V. Muraleedharan and Malaysian Hockey Federation assistant secretary N. Krishnan in Hyderabad, India. -- Pic: Stick2Hockey.comJAPAN comfortably beat Malaysia 3-1 to reach the semi-finals of the Junior Asia Cup in Hyderabad, India yesterday.
Malaysia took a 14th minute lead when Marhan Jalil scored a field goal, but allowed Japan to equalise in the 28th minute, and then take the lead a minute from the half-time hooter.
And Japan sealed their semis ticket in the 60th minute, after Malaysia went for broke in the second half, as they needed an outright win to shut Japan out of the semis.
“We had the match in our hands, but lost out in the last 15 minutes on physical and fitness. The team played to instructions and waited patiently for counters and that gave us an early lead.
“But two mistakes, the first on marking and the second by our penalty corner runner gave Japan a life-line.
“And in the second half, we went forward looking for goals, but Japan increased the lead instead,” said national juniors coach V. Muraleedharan.
The Junior Asia Cup offers three tickets to the 2009 Junior World Cup, where Malaysia and Singapore have qualified by virtue of being co-hosts.
Japan will play South Korea, while India meet Pakistan in the semi-finals tomorrow (Wednesday).
STANDINGS
GROUP A
P W D L F A Pts
India 3 3 0 0 11 1 9
Japan 3 2 0 1 12 4 6
Malaysia 3 0 1 2 4 8 1
Singapore 3 0 1 2 3 17 1
GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
S Korea 3 2 1 0 22 3 7
Pakistan 3 2 1 0 16 6 7
Bangladesh 3 1 0 2 9 17 3
Oman 3 0 0 3 2 23 0
RESULTS: Group A -- Japan 3 Malaysia 1, India 6 Singapore 0; Group B: Pakistan 8 Bangladesh 2, South Korea 11 Oman 0.
