Malaysia win, but bad play...

MALAYSIA started with a wobbly gait, when they beat Iran 6-1 in the Junior Asia Cup in Malacca yesterday.
   The surprise of the day was when Noraniyan Hamid, managed to score a goal against Malaysia in the 20th minute.
   Skipper Nor Faez Ibrahim saved the blushes with a hat-trick in the fifth, 10th and 38th, while Amir Farid (18th, 61st), Firhan Ashaari (29th),
  Malaysia’s true test will be against South Korea tomorrow, where a win will virtually place them in the Junior World Cup.
  In another Group A match, Korea opened their campaign with a 4-1 win over Japan.
   Korea took the lead in the  sixth minute off their first penalty corner when You Seung Ju put it past Japanese keeper Kusano Daisuke.
   After that, the Koreans placed two men up front at all time, and Seo Inwoo and Hwang Taeli created many chances.
   However, Japan injected hope into their match when they equalised off  Hoshi Suguru in the 27th minute.
   But the Koreans powered ahead with a penalty stroke from skipper Yang Jihun (31st), Jeong Young Seok (59th) and Seo Inwoo (63rd).
  RESULTS -- Group A: Korea 4 Japan 1, Malaysia 6 Iran 1.
  TODAY -- Group B: Pakistan v China (6.05pm), India v Sri Lanka (8.05pm) -- matches at MBM Stadium.

Bizarre goal raises London fears

LONDON — Germany beat Great Britain 3-1 in the test event at the Olympic Park but their opening goal prompted concerns about possible controversy at the 2012 Games if rules were strictly enforced.
    After a goalless first half, Germany were the first team to emerge for the start of the second period.
   When the countdown clock on the scoreboard reached zero, the umpires re-started the match even though several British players were still making their way back onto the pitch.
   Germany's Florian Fuchs then deflected the ball into an empty net.
   Christophe Zeller and Moritz Furste increased Germany's lead before Britain's Ashley Jackson pulled one back for the hosts from the penalty spot.
   "I think we had six or seven on the pitch and the umpires were told to start. It doesn't look great on anyone's part really," Jackson told the BBC.
   Germany coach Markus Weise said: "To me it sounds like a typical hockey thing. I can't imagine other sports starting (like that).
   "It's a very strange rule, probably provided by TV, that a game starts when the countdown is at zero. I don't want to be in a position without 11 players on the pitch and a game starting. It's a bit strange."
   Great Britain coach Jason Lee insisted his team hadn't been time-wasting.
   "It wasn't like we were four or five minutes late, we were 10 or 15 seconds late," Lee said. "But in hockey the ball goes so fast that you can't really get into position at that point.
    "The changing rooms are a little bit further (away from the pitch) than what we'd expect."
    Australia, the world's number one ranked men's side, beat India 3-0 thanks to goals from Russell Ford, Matt Gohdes and Luke Doerner.
   In the women's tournament, Great Britain saw Alex Danson mark her 50th appearance with the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over South Korea.
   Argentina, the reigning world champions, defeated China 3-0.

Malaysian women blow up again..

THE Malaysian women’s hockey team lost 3-2 to Austria in the Olympic Qualifiers in Kakamigahara, Japan, yesterday.
    The women will again meet Austria in the fifth-sixth playoff, on Saturday.
    It was Malaysia’s fourth defeat in the tournament, and the only point they have to show is the 2-2 draw against Belarus.
    Yesterday, Austria took the lead, but Malaysia scored two goals and went into the breather with a 2-1 score.
    However, the Austrian girls scored two more goals in the second half.
   Japan qualified for the final with a 4-0 win over Belarus, and will play Azerbaijan for the Olympic ticket.
    RESULTS: Malaysia 2 Austria 3, Japan 4 Belarus 0, Azerbaijan 2 Chile 2.