Faizal saves the blushes

A partnership between Faizal Saari and Marhan Jalil saved the blushes as Malaysia held Olympic bound South Korea to a 1-1 draw in the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh yesterday.
  The Koreans had taken the lead off Seo Jong Ho in the seventh minute, and Malaysia had to wait until the 56th minute when Marhan fed Faizal who slammed int he equaliser.
  Faizal was also instrumental in Malaysia winning the Junior Asia Cup gold in Malacca recently.
  Six of the seven juniors who featured in the victorious Junior Asia Cup in Malacca were fielded in the match against the 
Koreans.
   Only Fitri Saari was not named for the match while Three juniors Rahmadan Rosli, Noor Faeez Ibrahim and Norhizzat 
Ibrahim earned their first international caps for the national team.
  Malaysia then survived a 10-minute onslaught, and even saved Korea's penalty corner won in the last minute of the match 
to share points.
  The national players next play Olympic hosts Britain today, and the juniors proved against South Korea that they should 
be given more playing time in the Azlan Shah Cup by coach Tai Beng Hai.
  In another match, New Zealand were in a mean mood when they hit a high-five over India to put a dent in their title 
hopes.
  It was a super start for the Kiwis, considering they only had only 16 players available for the match as Blair Hilton was 
ruled out for appendicitis while his replacement Shay Neal was still on the way coupled with the fact that Hugo Inglis 
could not play due to illness.
 The New Zealand goals were scored by Simon Child (first minute), Andy Hayward (34th), Nick Wilson’ (59th), Stephen Jenness 
(61st),  Matt L’hullier (65th). The India goal was scored by Shivendra Singh in the sixth minute.
    In the first match of the day, last year’s silver medallists Pakistan beat Argentina 4-2 with goals from Muhammad Irfan 
(33rd minute), Sohail Abbas (46th), Haseem Khan  (65th) and Muhammad Waqas (69th).
   The Argentina goal was scored by Gonzalo Peillat (53rd) and Mathias Parades (62nd).
   RESULTS: Pakistan 4 Argentina 2, New Zealand 5 India 1, South Korea 1 Malaysia 1.
    TODAY: New Zealand v Argentina (4pm), Britain  v Malaysia (6pm), South Korea  v India (8pm).
    SUNDAY: New Zealand v Pakistan (4pm), South Korea v Argentina (6pm), Britain v India (8pm).
    MAY 28: South Korea v Pakistan (4pm), Britain v Argentina (6pm), India v Malaysia (8pm).
     MAY 30:  Argentina  v  India (4pm), Britain v New Zealand (6pm), Pakistan  v Malaysia (8pm).
     MAY 31: Britain v South Korea (4pm), Pakistan v India (6pm), New Zealand  v  Malaysia (8pm).
     JUNE 2: South Korea v New Zealand (4pm), Britain v Pakistan (6pm), Argentina v Malaysia (8pm).