Kazakhstan
opened their campaign in the World League First Round with a convining 6-1 win
over Sri Lanka at the Kuantan Hockey Stadium.
Having
led 3-0 within the opening eight minutes, Kazakhstan was foiled by the
tenancity of the Sri Lanka players who defended stoutly despite being under
pressure a large part of the match.
Though
awarded 11 penalty corners in the match, Kazakhstan scored only four and this
attributed in a way to their failure to notch up a much bigger win.
Kazakhstan
went onto the offensive from the start and were duly rewarded when Vera
Domashneva in the 4th minute.
In
the 6th minute Kazakhstan was awarded their first penalty cormer.
Instead of making a direct attempt, Gulnara Imangaliyeva relayed the ball to
the far post for Vera to deflect into goal to give Kazakhstan a 2-0 lead.
Sri
Lanka skipper Dinesha Pereira and Madhushani Battagodage created some openings
and forced two penalty corners but they could not get a shot on target to
trouble Olga Sheveleva in the Khazak goal.
Gulnara
then scored via direct hits from two penalty corners, in the 8th and
21st minutes to put Kazakhstan 4-0 ahead and Sri Lanka were reeling.
However
Sri Lanka managed to reduce the deficit in the 23rd minute through Dinesha and tightened their defence.
Kazakhstan
tried to break down the opponents defence with Olga Khonina and Gulnara coming
close as the teams trooped off at halftime with Kazkhstan leading 4-1.
The
exchanges were even in the opening minutes of the second half as Kazakhstan were
foiled time and again by Aruni Jauyasinghe and Madhura Raththepitiya.
Kazakhstan
managed to net their fifth goal in the 66th minute through the
efforts of Vera who completed her hattrick. Another penalty corner conversion
by Natalya Sazontova in the 70th minute ensured a big win for
Khazakhstan who take on hosts Malaysia on Saturday.
