Malaysia in Asean schools final

STANDINGS

P W D L F A Pts
MALAYSIA 3 3 0 0 17 0 9
SINGAPORE 3 2 0 1 12 9 6
INDONESIA 2 1 0 1 3 5 3
THAILAND 2 0 0 2 2 9 0
BRUNEI 2 0 0 2 0 11 0

RESULTS: Singapore 4 Thailand 2, Brunei 0 Indonesia 3, Malaysia 7 Singapore 0.
TODAY: Thailand v Brunei (3pm), Indonesia v Singapore (5pm). All matches at the Tun Razak Stadium.

MALAYSIA qualified for the final of the Second Asean Schools hockey tournament with one match in hand when they beat Singapore 7-0 at the Tun Razak Stadium yesterday.
And going by the form-book, both the teams are expected to square off again in the final on Sunday.
However, the comfortable win for Malaysia cannot be taken into account for a confirmed gold, because Singapore looked lethergic after having beaten Thailand 4-2 in a morning match, while Malaysia only played one match yesterday.
The tournament fixtures also saw Malaysia playing two matches on Wednesday against Indonesia and Thailand, where Malaysia won with identical 5-0 scores.
The Malaysian team, made up of Bukit Jalil and Bandar Penawar Sports School players, however, muffed a handful of chances which could have seen then thrash Singapore comprehensively.
Kevin Kartrik, the skipper from Tampin, Negri Sembilan, started the goal count in the sixth minute with a low penalty corner push.
The other goals were scored by Shahril Sa'abah (23rd, 50th, 62nd), Faridzul Afiq (28th) Arif Rahman (45th) and Dangerous Lee (66th).
"I believe Singapore were tired after playing Thailand in the morning and that is why we managed to score so many goals against them. However, we also played two matches in a day on Wednesday, but my players fitness took them through," said Malaysia coach S. Prakash.
Prakash believes if his charges meet Singapore again in the final, Malaysia should end up at the top of the podium.
"So far, from my observation, Malaysia is the best team in the tournament, and should deliver gold. But I need to bring the boys back to earth, so that they do not get carried away with today (yesterday's win)," said Prakash.
Malaysia play Brunei on Saturday while Singapore's last pool match is against Indonesia today.

Back-to-back win for Malaysia

Malaysia’s Dangerous Lee (left) is challenged by Thailand’s Sakprasert Seemarak in their match at the 2nd Asean Schools Games at the Tun Razak Stadium yesterday. — Picture by Osman Adnan

MALAYSIA needed to get off on the right footing towards achieving their hefty 50 gold medal target in the 2nd Asean Schools Games in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, and the hockey team did just that with a 10-goal spree in their two opening matches.
The morning presented what was an unpredictable obstacle against Indonesia, which coach S. Prakash’s charges had no problems walking away with a thumping 5-0 victory at the Tun Razak Stadium.
While awaiting their second match in the evening, Malaysia watched a potentially dangerous Singapore hand minnows Brunei a 8-0 thrashing, something which Prakash is wary of.
A lethargic Malaysia, led by captain S. Kavin Kartik, then overcame a nervous start against a wily Thai side, who pinned them back in the opening five minutes.
The Thais were energetic, making up for what they lacked in technical ability with hard running, but were let down by poor basic skills of their forwards’ poor basic skills despite creating several decent opportunities.
Fears of the unexpected were calmed when Mohd Amirudin Zain udin opened the scoring in the with an 18th minute, after receiving a pass on the right flank from Shahril Sa’abah who had just replaced Dangerous Lee Matthew a minute earlier.
Dangerous, who was shortly back on the pitch, was the focal point of most Malaysian attacks but squan dered several chances, particularly what was an easy connection from an Amirudin cross in the 25th minute which he tapped right into Thai goal keeper Chaturonk Paengpie.
Shortly before half-time, Malaysia doubled the score after some good individual work from Faridzul Afiq Muhamad who laid yed on a pass for Mohd Taufik Abdul Hamid to slot into an empty goal.
The half-time pep-talk from Prakash seemed to centre around the indecisive frontline, who often took too much time on the ball, allowing the Thais to close them down.
And despite the second half being a rain-drenched affair, it provided a show of improvement with more incisive attacks resulting in three more goals, the first of which came via a 42nd minute penalty corner connection from Mohd Aslam Hanafiah.
The hard-working Dangerous was finally rewarded with his first goal of the tournament when he connected to a 48th minute pass from Mohd Taufik, and the scoring was completed amidst heavy rain in the 52nd minute when Shahril slotted home a penalty corner.
“We were a little disorganised in the game against Thailand because the boys were a little lethargic having already played in the morning,” said Prakash.
“What’s important to note is that all the Asean sides are very much improved. We can no longer look at them as easy opponents. We had to work hard and make some corrections before we overcame Thailand by that score.”
Malaysia play what could be the deciding match in the round robin opening round against Singapore at 5pm today.

New Straits Times

One draw, one defeat against Poles

PROJECT 2013 drew one and lost one match against Poland Under-21 in
their Tour of Europe to prepare for the 2013 Junior World Cup.
The first match ended 4-4 in the first friendly with the Malaysian goals
coming from Firhan Ashaari, Mohamed Sabri (two goals) and Hizzat
Hakimi.
Malaysia took the lead four times, but the Poles kept scoring the
equaliser.
In the second match, Malaysia lost 2-3 to Poland. Firhan Ashaari and
Syamim Yusof scored for Project 2013.

Second Test
By Mirnawan Nawawi
1st half:

Both teams started the game with cautious. In 6th min slick move between Amir Farid, Syamim Yusof and Firhan Ashaari the Project's scored the 1st goal through Firhan Ashaari. In 11th min the Polish drew level through FG. They have the opportunity to take the lead in 17th min through PC but the project's defence stood firm. In the 21st min the Project's earned the only PC in the game but Mohd Sabri failed to convert from the direct attempt. again the Polish earned their PC in 25th min again they failed to score. The score stood at 1 - 1 in the 1st half.
2nd half:

The Project's start with the attacking mode by creating goal scoring chances from Amir Farid, Firhan Ashaari and Syamim Yusof but fail to find the net.In the 42nd min started from a shot at goal, saved by Mohd Haffizudin but the Polish is fast to get the rebound to score their 2nd goal. The Polish earned their 3rd PC in the in 55th min but failed to convert. Syamim Yusof scored level in the 61st min with a well taken goal.In 67th min from a goal melee the Project's earned a penalty stroke but Firhan Ashaari flick saved by the post even the goalkeeper went to opposite direction. Syamim Yusof again beat a defender but the Polish keeper manage to saved his attempt. In dying second the Polish manage to broke through the Project's defense and earned a Penalty Stroke and coolly converted it.
We didn't achieved our personal target to win this match but overall based on the Polish experience and age factor with 12 players that played in the last Junior World Cup the players did well. Creating a few chances and again the scoring skill let them down. The final passes especially between the forwards in the D need to be improve. We only manage to earned 1 pc opposed to Poland 3.
Communication and understanding between the defence need to be better. The rotation of players too is one of the factor that resulted to loosing the matches. But one of the objective of this tour is to expose players and to be given equal playing time and that what the Coaches did.
After the games the Mayor of Sroda hosted us a dinner and according to him that we are the 2nd National Team that have played in Sroda beside the Indian National Team in 1944.
Trow we will be playing the 3rd Test with the Polish U 21 at 6pm at Poznan Hockey Stadium and we need to win to draw the test. We will leave to Amsterdam after the game.