Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Australia in super form

AUSTRALIA stamped their dominance in the Azlan Shah Cup when they beat a fighting South Korea 4-2 to top the standings in Ipoh yesterday.
The match was not an easy one, as the Koreans were determined to stop the Australian run, but inexperience let down the Asian side.
Australia took the lead in the 8th minute off Timothy Deavin. And they doubled the advantage in the 12th minute when Mark Paterson scored.
Korea reduced the deficit through a goal by You Hyo Sik in the 15th minute and should have leveled the scores had not Andrew Charter in the Australian goal pulled off a spectacular save from Yoon Sung Hoon in the 27th minute.
However, Australia inserted their dominance by scoring the third goal off Glenn Turner in the 34th minute for a 3-1 ahead.
Korea were back in the match when Hyun Hye Sung who sent the ball between Charter’s pads in the 39th minute to narrow the gap, but Mark
Paterson scoring the fourth goal in the three minutes from time to seal three points.
In another match, Pakistan came back from a goal down to beat India 3-1.
Rupinder Singh gave India a big boost by scoring off a penalty in the 23rd minute, his sixth of the tournament, but India could not control the match even with the lead.
Umar Bhutta scored the equaliser in the 49th minute, while skipper Muhamamd Imran sent a powerful drag-flick crashing into the net in the 56th minute penalty corner.
Pakistan, inspired by their skipper's goal, won another penalty corner one minute after the re-start and this time, penalty corner world record holder Sohai Abbas made sure with his trademark drag-attempt.