Malaysia’s Faizal Saari (right) is tackled by Spain’s Xavier Lleonart in their Junior World Cup Group C match in Johor yesterday. The match ended 3-3. — Pic: HAIRUL ANUAR ABD RAHIMMALAYSIA were 3-1 down, then went on to draw 3-3 with European Champions Spain in Group C, but it was not good enough to take them to the medal round of the Junior World Cup.
Backed by a packed stadium, Malaysia were guilty of making one silly mistake which led to the equaliser, while the umpire from Belgium Vincent Loos made a big blunder which made it 2-1 in favour of Spain.
Malaysia started on a confident note, and received the tonic that they needed in the ninth minute itself, which send the 6,000-odd crown into wild celebrations.
Spain were deep inside the Malaysian semi-circle, and a back-stick clearance by skipper Khairul Anuar found Izwan Firdus who made a darting run and passed the ball to Faizal Shaari.
Faizal scored his fouth goal of the tournament with a reverse-stick shot, a Spanish trademark, to beat goalkeeper Francesc Mata and Malaysia were in the lead.
But even before the celebrations died down, Malaysia were in the receiving end as they made two mistakes which allowed Spain to equalise, and then take the lead.
Roc Oliva scored the equaliser in the 20th minute and two minutes later, Javier Garcia made it 2-1. Malaysia protested the second goal, claiming the ball had gone out of play, but the umpire stood firm and it became an uphill batle as the half-time hooter blew.
But Malaysia were not ready to give up, and 30 seconds into the second half, they won their first penalty corner of the match, but Faizal's high flick was palmed away by the goalkeeper.
Malaysia threw everything at the Spaniards, but were unlucky to conceede their third goal in the 49th minute when Xavier Lleonart scored off a penalty corner.
Being 3-1 down would have cracked any junior team, but the boys in yellow were in no mood to give up, and Harvinder Singh scored for Malaysia in the 54th minute, and the match turned into a pulsating affair.
The boys were rewarded for their persistence in the 60th minute, Mohamed Noor Khairul equalised with a deft touch, and the fans went wild in celebrations,
However, the Spaniards held onto the draw, and advanced to the madal round, as the Malaysian players received a standing ovation from their fans.
