Sixth title for Australia, barely...

RESULTS -- Fifth-Sixth: South Korea 2 India 1; Third-Fourth: New Zealand 2 Great Britain 4; Final: Pakistan 2 Australia 3.

WORLD No 1 Australia were made to sweat buckets before edging Pakistan 3-2 in sudden-death play to win their sixth Azlan Shah Cup title in Ipoh last night.
World campions Australia never looked like they had the first half in hand, as Asian Games champions Pakistan ran rings around them with skilful and speedy forward Shakeel Abbasi leading the counter attacks.
However, Australia got the lucky break they were looking for when Christopher Ciriello scored off their second penalty corner in the 11th minute. It was a powerful grounder which caught the entire defense napping.
But instead of dominating, the Australians were forced to defend in numbers as Pakistan kept attacking in waves, only to miss a handful of sitters.
Pakistan could not score off their first penalty corner, and the second they received in the 31st minute also almost went to waste.
Skipper Muhammad Imran failed to trap the ball, but kept possession and made a deft pass to Sohail Abbas on his left and the penalty corner world record holder dragged in a powerful flick for the equaliser.
Australia, playing at half their capabilities, still managed to re-take the lead when Glenn Turner was given an acre of space to run in the 44th minute, and slam the ball in with ease.
But still, Pakistan kept on playing super hockey and in the 62nd minute, Rehan Butt made it 2-2 from close range, after Shakeel made another brilliant run and made a piercing pass to him to take the match into sudden-death extra-time.
Australia made it count in the sudden-death, when Ciriello nailed the winner off a penalty corner attempt in the 81st minute.
In the bronze fight, Olympic hosts Great Britain came back from a goal down to beat New Zealand 4-2.
The Britain goals were scored by Richard Mantell (34th), Robert Moore (51st), Richard Smith (59th), Matthew Daly (65th).
Stephen Jenness scored for the Kiwis in the 20th minute, while Blair Hilton's 69th minute effort was a little too late to salvage the match.
And when last year's joint finalists India and South Korea clashed in the first match if the day, the Koreans were more motivated and won 2-1.
The Korean goals were scored by Nam Hyun Woo (11th), Jang Jong Hyun (21st).
Vikram Pillay socred India's goal in the 41st minute.

Brits land Azlan Shah Cup bronze

In the bronze fight, Olympic hosts Great Britain came back from a goal down to beat New Zealand 4-2.

The Britain goals were scored by Richard Mantell (34th), Robert Moore (51st), Richard Smith (59th), Matthew Daly (65th).

Stephen Jenness scored for the Kiwis in the 20th minute, while Blair Hilton's 69th minute effort was a little too late to salvage the match.

And when last year's joint finalists India and South Korea clashed in the first match if the day, the Koreans were more motivated and won 2-1.

The Korean goals were scored by Nam Hyun Woo (11th), Jang Jong Hyun (21st).

Vikram Pillay socred India's goal in the 41st minute.

RESULTS -- Fifth-Sixth: South Korea 2 India 1; Third-Fourth: New Zealand 2 Great Britain 4; Final: Pakistan x Australia x.

Australia at the top

2011 AZLAN SHAH CUP FINAL STANDINGS

P W D L F A Pts

AUSTRALIA 6 5 1 0 18 8 16

PAKISTAN 6 4 0 2 17 15 A 12

BRITAIN 6 3 0 3 12 12 9

N ZEALAND 6 2 1 3 16 17 7

INDIA 6 2 1 3 15 17 7

KOREA 6 2 1 3 12 15 7

MALAYSIA 6 1 0 5 11 17 3

RESULTS -- Great Britain 1 South Korea 3, Pakistan 3 Malaysia 2, Australia 4 New Zealand 2.

MAY 15 -- FITFT-SIXTH: South Korea v India (4pm); THIRD-FOURTH: Britain v New Zealand (6pm); FINAL: Australia v Pakistan (8.30pm).

Malaysia doomed before last match

MALAYSIA were doomed to finish last in the Azlan Shah Cup even before they played Pakistan, but still gave the Asian Games gold medallists a huge scare before losing 3-2 in the Azlan Shah Cup yesterday.

It was the second consecutive time Malaysia went down to Pakistan, with the first being a 2-0 defeat in the Asian Games final.

South Korea beat Great Britain 3-1 in the 4pm match, and it made Malaysia's match academic, while Pakistan needed a win to play Australia in the final today.

However, Malaysia are solely to be blamed for the defeat, as Kelvinder Singh and the other forwards missed a handful of sitters, before Pakistan took the lead off a Sohail Abbad penalty corner in the eighth minute.

For the record, Sohail also scored against Malaysia in the Asian Games.

Muhammad Waqas made it 2-0 with a field goal in the 21st minute, before Hafifihafiz Hanafi pulled one back for Malaysia in the dying seconds of the first half.

Shakeel Abbasi doused the comaback fire with a 51st minute goal, and but by the time Radzi Rahim finally scored off a penalty corner in the 58th minute, it was too late to chase for a draw and Malaysia lost another match after playing in patches.

"We had our chances to score, but did not connect. And after Pakistan scored, we had to keep chasing and came close to pulling off a draw," said Malaysian coach Tai Beng Hai.

Pakistan coach Khawaja Junaid was pleased with his side, as they had beaten all the Asian teams in the tournament.

"After losing to Great Britain and Australia, I am happy to note that we kept our Asian Games gold medal win on a high pedestral, as we beat the other Asian teams in the tournament," said Khawaja.

Korea, after losing to Malaysia 3-1 the previous day, gave Olympic hosts Great Britain a run for their money when in the 10th minute Jang Sung Hoon guided the ball into goal with ease.

And Great Britain made their second penalty corner in the 20th minute count, as Mathew Daly’s shot was too powerful for Korean keeper LeeMyung Ho, who despite getting a foot to it failed to prevent the equaliser.

However, Jang gave Korea the lead again off a field goal in the 23rd minute, and You Hyo Sik tucked away a rebound to make sure the three points.

Pakistan ready for Australia

PAKISTAN lost 5-1 to Australia in the group stages, but the Asian Games gold medallis and Olympic side are not afraid to square off against the World Champions in the Azlan Shah Cup final today.

Last year's joint gold medallists India and South Korea will play in the fifth-sixth classification match.

Olympic hosts Great Britain and New Zealand will play for the bronze medal.

Yesterday Australia who had already qualified for the final, still went on to beat New Zealand 4-2 in the last pool match.

"We came here with a mixture of youth and experience, and I must say that we have played every match with the best of our capabilities.

"And even though we lost 5-1 to Ausralia, we will try and not make the same mistakes again. We are here to learn and build a team for the Olympics, and Australia will provide us with a solid match towards this purpose," said Pakistan skipper Muhammad Imran.

Australia coach Ric Charlesworth had said earlier that they are not too worried with who they will play in the final.

"Every team here is playing well, and it would not make any difference as to who we play. We came here to play in the final, and have achieved it. Now we will just have to play much better to claim the gold," said Charlesworth.