Malaysia heading for rock-bottom

15/05/08
RESULTS: India 2 Pakistan 1, New Zealand 3 Canada 0, Belgium 4 Malaysia 2.
MALAYSIA lost 4-2 to Belgium yesterday, and are now firmly rooted at the bottom of the 17th Azlan Shah Cup standings.
And if they remain there after their last pool match against India tomorrow, there will be no need for a play-off, as the lowest is among the fifth and sixth only.
Malaysia were forced to defend from the whistle, as Belgium inserted great pressure and goalkeeper S. Kumar had to bring out a few heroic saves.
But the inevitable finally happened in the 20th minute, when Charles Vandeweghe gave his team the lead with a rebound goal.
Malaysia went on the offensive after that, and played some great hockey before sounding the board for the equaliser in the 24th minute.
Amin Rahim’s low flick gave a cracking sound as it crashed onto the board, and Malaysia went into the breather on equal terms with Belgium.
But the second half turned into a nightmare, as Malaysia kept on missing sitters while Vandeweghe scored his brace in the 43rd.
Malaysia equalised at 2-2 in the 46th minute when Amin Rahim scored again, but the Belgians walked away with full points with strikes from Jerome Dekeyser (52nd) and Thomas Briels (69th).
Meanwhile, India put up a brave front to beat Pakistan 2-1 and open the door to the final a little wider. India, with nine points, now need to beat Malaysia to play in the final.
Sandeep Singh (seventh) and Diwakar Ram (26th), scored for India in the first half off penalty corners, while Muhammad Saqlain (59th) scored from the penalty spot for Pakistan in the second half.
New Zealand beat Canada 3-0 with goals from David Kosoof 20th, Dean Couzins 48th and Nicholas Wilson 63rd.
TODAY: Rest Day.
MAY 17: Argentina v Canada (4pm), India v Malaysia (6pm), New Zealand v Belgium (8pm).
P W D L F A Pts
ARGENTINA 5 4 1 0 17 6 13
PAKISTAN 6 3 1 2 18 16 10
INDIA 5 3 0 2 15 15 9
BELGIUM 5 2 0 3 14 14 6
NEW ZEALAND 5 2 0 3 11 13 6
CANADA 5 1 1 3 5 10 4
MALAYSIA 5 1 1 3 8 14 4

PAST AZLAN SHAH CUP WINNERS

Sultan Azlan Shah with the 2007 champions Australia

Sultan Azlan Shah with the 2006 champions Netherlands

1983
CHAMPION: AUSTRALIA
SECOND: PAKISTAN
THIRD: INDIA
FOURTH: MALAYSIA
1985
CHAMPION: INDIA
SECOND: MALAYSIA
THIRD: PAKISTAN
FOURTH: SPAIN
1987
CHAMPION: GERMANY
SECOND: PAKISTAN
THIRD: ENGLAND
FOURTH: MALAYSIA
FIFTH: SOUTH KOREA
SIXTH: JAPAN
1991
CHAMPION: INDIA
SECOND: PAKISTAN
THIRD: SOVIET UNION
FOURTH: NEW ZEALAND
FIFTH: MALAYSIA
SIXTH: SOUTH KOREA
1991
CHAMPION: INDIA
SECOND: PAKISTAN
THIRD: SOVIET UNION
FOURTH: NEW ZEALAND
FIFTH: MALAYSIA
SIXTH: SOUTH KOREA
1994
CHAMPION: ENGLAND
SECOND: PAKISTAN
THIRD: AUSTRALIA
FOURTH: MALAYSIA
FIFTH: SOUTH KOREA
1995
CHAMPION: INDIA
SECOND: GERMANY
THIRD: NEW ZEALAND
FOURTH: SPAIN
FIFTH: CANADA
SIXTH: MALAYSIA
1996
CHAMPION: SOUTH KOREA
SECOND: AUSTRALIA
THIRD: MALAYSIA
FOURTH: ENGLAND
FIFTH: INDIA
SIXTH: NETHERLANDS
1998
CHAMPION: AUSTRALIA
SECOND: GERMANY
THIRD: SOUTH KOREA
FOURTH: NEW ZEALAN
DFIFTH: ENGLAND
SIXTH: MALAYSIA
1999
CHAMPION: PAKISTAN
SECOND: SOUTH KOREA
THIRD: GERMANY
FOURTH: CANADA
FIFTH: MALAYSIA
SIXTH: NEW ZEALAND
2000
CHAMPION: PAKISTAN
SECOND: SOUTH KOREA
THIRD: INDIA
FOURTH: MALAYSIA
FIFTH: GERMANY
SIXTH: NEW ZEALAND
SEVENTH: CANADA
2001
CHAMPION: GERMANY
SECOND: SOUTH KOREA
THIRD: AUSTRALIA
FOURTH: PAKISTAN
FIFTH: INDIA
SIXTH: ENGLAND
SEVENTH: MALAYSIA
2003
CHAMPION: PAKISTAN
SECOND: GERMANY
THIRD: NEW ZEALAND
FOURTH: SOUTH KOREA
FIFTH: MALAYSIA
2004
CHAMPION: AUSTRALIA
SECOND: PAKISTAN
THIRD: SOUTH KOREA
FOURTH: GERMANY
FIFTH: SPAINSIXTH: MALAYSIA
SEVENTH: INDIA
2005
CHAMPION: AUSTRALIA
SECOND: SOUTH KOREA
THIRD: PAKISTAN
FOURTH: NEW ZEALAND
FIFTH: INDIA
SIXTH: MALAYSIA
SEVENTH: SOUTH AFRICA
2006
CHAMPION: NETHERLANDS
SECOND: AUSTRALIA
THIRD: INDIA
FOURTH: NEW ZEALAND
FIFTH: PAKISTAN
SIXTH: SOUTH KOREA
SEVENTH: ARGENTINA
EIGHTH: MALAYSIA
2007
CHAMPION: AUSTRALIA
SECOND: MALAYSIA
THIRD: INDIA
FOURTH: SOUTH KOREA
FIFTH: ARGENTINA
SIXTH: PAKISTAN
SEVENTH: CHINA
EIGHTH: CANADA
2008
CHAMPION: ARGENTINA
SECOND: INDIA
THIRD: NEW ZEALAND
FOURTH: PAKISTAN
FIFTH: CANADA
SIXTH: BELGIUM
SEVENTH: MALAYSIA
2009
CHAMPION: INDIA
SECOND: MALAYSIA
THIRD: NEW ZEALAND
FOURTH: PAKISTAN
FIFTH: EGYPT

India 2 Pakistan 1

15/05/08

India 2 Pakistan 1
India scorers Sandeep Singh and Diwakar Ram. Muhammad Saqlain scored from the penalty spot for Pakistan in the second half.
Now, India need to win against Malaysia on Saturday to play in the final. Pakistan will surely be cheering for Malaysia!