Sunday, May 9, 2010

India take early lead

STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts

INDIA 3 2 1 0 8 5 7
AUSTRALIA 2 2 0 0 6 1 6
KOREA 3 1 1 1 9 4 4
PAKISTAN 3 1 1 1 11 9 4
MALAYSIA 3 0 2 1 5 6 2
CHINA 2 0 1 1 3 7 1
EGYPT 2 0 0 2 0 10 0

RESULTS: South Korea 2 India 3, Pakistan 6 China 2, Australia 2 Malaysia 1.
TODAY: South Korea v China (4.05pm), Australia v India (6.05pm), Malaysia v Egypt (8.05pm).
TOMORROW: Rest Day.
WEDNESDAY: Australia v Pakistan (4.05pm), China v Egypt (6.05pm), India v Malaysia (8.05pm).

Malaysia go down fighting to Australia

MALAYSIA came close to holding Australia, but bowed out 2-1 in the 19th Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh yesterday.
However, the match was not a total lost, as some of the young and inexperienced Malaysians earned their stripes with great determination and fighting spirit against the World No 1.
The Malaysian fans, numbering about 6,000, watched in awe as a transformed Malaysian side took on the Aussies in every department, and controlled the match with deft passes.
However, their hearts sank when Australia won their first penalty corner in the second minute, and Christopher Ciriello made it count with a deft push.
But the Malaysian players pushed even harder and after an impresive run from the midfield, won their first penalty corner in the fourth minute. Amin Rahim pushed low to Azlan Misron on his left, and the Perak-born slapped in the equaliser.
And for the rest of the half, Malaysia had to defend a wave of Aussie attacks, and mounted counter-attacks when presented with a an opportunity.
And with 30 seconds on the firtsh half clock, a super run from Faizal Saari ended with him making a cross which was connected into goal by Hafifihafiz Hanafi and there was a wild celebration from the Malaysian players, but umpire Warren McCully blew otherwise, and poured cold water on the attempt.
Australia took a robust approach in the second half, and Kieren Govers received the green in the 43rd, and sat out for two minutes, and then Brent Dancer was sent off on a yellow card offence in the 48th minute.
However, an opportunist run from Matt Gohdes in the 59th minute, which saw the Malaysian defense flat-footed for the first time in the match, beat goalkeeper S. Kumar and Australia were in the lead again.
To their credit, Malaysia pressed hard for the equaliser again, and with four minutes on the clock, Azlan Misron and Faizal Saari's combination troubled the Aussies but their goalkeeper Meadows saved all their attempts.
Malaysia won a penalty corner with 40 seconds remaining on the clock, but their set-piece went wild, and Australia looked relieved as they left the pitch.
Meanwhile, defending champions India beat a jaded South Korean side 3-2, after the Asian champions could only score two goals off the 11 penalty corners and numerous sitters that came their way.
The India goals were scored by Arjun Halappa (10th), Tushar Khandker (45th) and Shivendra Singh (60th)
Nam Hyun Woo scored both the Korean goals off penalty corner attempts in the 13th and 70th minutes.
In another match, Pakistan hammered China 6-2 with the bulk of the goals coming in a second half blitz.
Pakistan got their goals off Imran Muhammad (17th), Haseem Khan (30th, 42nd), Mohammed Zubair (45th, 47th) and Muhammad Rizwan (61st).
The China goals were scored by Yu Yang (18th) and Sun Long (40th).

Half-time: Malaysia 1 Australia 1

The Malaysian fans, numbering about 6,000, watched in awe as a
transformed Malaysian side took on the Aussies in every department, and
controlled the match with deft passes.
However, their hearts sank when Australia won their first penalty corner
in the second minute, and Christopher Ciriello made it count with a deft
push.
But the Malaysian players pushed even harder and after an impresive
run from the midfield, won their first penalty corner in the fourth minute.
Amin Rahim pushed low to Azlan Misron on his left, and the Perak-born
slapped in the equaliser.
Malaysia received another chance in the 19th minute, but this time, the
penalty corner push taken by Amin found the stick of Faizal Saari but
Australian goalkeeper Ross Meadows palmed it away.
And for the rest of the half, Malaysia had to defend a wave of Aussie
attacks, and mounted counter-attacks when presented with a an
opportunity.
And with 30 seconds on the clock, a super run from Faizal Saari ended
with him making a cross which was connected into goal by Hafifihafiz
Hanafi and there was a wild celebration from the Malaysian players, but
umpire Warren McCully blew otherwise, and poured cold water on the
attempt.

Pakistan hit a sixer

By Azlanshahcup.com

Pakistan bounced back from their defeat against India by defeating China 6-2 at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup today.
It was the first win for Pakistan, after they came back to draw against Malaysia and lost 4-2 to India.
It was a much improved performance from the Pakistanis as they made use of the chances that came their way while the Chinese were left bewildered as to what hit them.
The win gives Pakistan four points from three matches and they are making a late charge towards a place in the top four of the tournament.
Pakistan opened scoring in the 15th minute via skipper Muhamad Imran who converted their first penalty corner. But China hit back right away, as Yu Yang finished off a move from the left flank.
In the 29th minute, Pakistan went ahead yet again through Abdul Haseem Khan who kept his cool, collecting a cross from Zubair Mohamad and finishing clinically to put them 2-1 ahead.
China forced a penalty corner in the dying seconds of the first half but could not find the equalizer. However it took China only five minutes after resumption to make the scores level when Sun Long converted a penalty stroke.
Undeterred, Pakistan hit a purple patch, and in five minutes scored three goals to take control of the match.
In the 43rd minute Haseem Khan deflected in a cross from the right and it was hotly disputed by the Chinese players but umpire Kim Jong Wan of Korea, after consulting fellow umpire R. Anbanathan, stuck to his decision.
And before the Chinese could take stock of the situation, Pakistan doubled their advantage, this time it was Muhamad Zubair who scored in the 46th minute.
Two minutes later Zubair made it 5-2 and Muhamad Rizwan’s deflection off a penalty corner in the 62nd minute put Pakistan 6-2 ahead.

India beat Korea 3-2

By Azlanshahcup.com

India defeated Korea 3-2 in their third match of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, thus continuing their dominance over the Koreans, dating back to the Asia Cup final in 2007.
With this win, the Indians have seven points from three matches, after their 1-1 draw against China and 4-2 win over Pakistan.
In the end, the Koreans have themselves to blame as they were awarded 11 penalty corners in the match but found the net only twice, the second goal in the 70th minute when the outcome was already decided.
India were awarded two penalty corners in quick succession in the 6th and 7th minutes. And off the second, which was cleverly worked, the ball was eventually diverted to Sardar Singh but his pass across the face of the Korean goal did not find and Indian stick.
But the Indians were not to be denied and in the 10th minute Shivendra Sinfgh burst through the left, evaded two tackles before sending the ball to Arjun Hallapa who had the simplest task of slotting into an empty goal with Korean keeper Lee Myung Ho beaten.
Korea hit back right away and forced a penalty corner in the 12th minute and ace marksman Nam Hyun Woo sent the ball into the roof of the net giving Bharat Chetri no chance whatsoever to level the scores at 1-1.
Both teams created openings in the closing stages of the match but failed to score and at halftime they trooped off the pitch on level terms.
India went 2-1 ahead in the 45th minutes when Shivendra Singh’s shot was deflected into goal by a lurking Tushar Khandakar.
Korea were awarded their fourth penalty corner in the 48th minute but instead of going for the direct attempt, they opted to utilize a set piece and it fizzled out without causing any real danger.
And India made Korea pay as Mujtaba Danish’s cross found Shivendra Singh who tapped in to put India 3-1 ahead in the 60th minute.
Korea scored their second in stoppage time, with Hyun Woo scoring to make the final score 3-2.