Sunday, March 10, 2013

Paul Revington's take on NZ match..

"I always expect my players to win when they enter the pitch regardless of whom they are playing and so far, the players have not let down my expectations of them," said Malaysian coach Paul Revington.
  However, happy with the win did not mean Revington was happy with the way his charges played in the seconf half.
  "We were in control of attack after scoring the two goals, and had chances to make it 3-0 and even 4-0 but did not take it. That is an area that needs improving," said Revington.
  Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, who scored his first of the tournament was just glad that he could help his mates: "It was a wonderful feeling to score that goal and help my teammates win the match. Now that we have to wins, we will be looking to continue this momentum in the remaining matches," said Tengku Ahmad.




  RESULTS: Australia 6 Pakistan 0, South Korea 2 India 1, Malaysia 2 New Zealand 1.

STANDINGS

               P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts


AUSTRALIA      2  2  0  0  10 3  6
MALAYSIA       2  2  0  0  5  3  6
KOREA          2  1  0  1  4  4  3
PAKISTAN       2  1  0  1  4  9  3
N ZEALAND      2  0  0  2  4  6  0
INDIA          2  0  0  2  4  6  0

Malaysia beat NZ 2-1..

MALAYSIA, ranked 13th in the World, scalped Sixth ranked New Zealand 2-1 to carve out a famous victory in the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh yesterday,
  However, even with six points from two matches, Malaysia did not impress in both the wins against South Korea and New Zealand. They will face World No 2 Australia on Tuesday, and if they continue playing like this, coach Paul Revington's men will be in for a hiding.
  It was a another nervous start form Malaysia as Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin's second minute cross went a begging as a sliding Faizal Saari failed to connect it home.
  There were a few more chances after that, but poor finishing denied Malaysian an early lead.
  And after 10 minutes, the Kiwis finally came out from their own half only to be denied by S. Kumar who made some diving saves on field attempts, and also palmed away their first penalty corner.
  As the clock ticked away towards half-time, the most hardworking player on the Malaysian side was Baljit Singh, who defeanded his semi-circle like a lion.
  The biggest cheer came in the 25th minute, when Tengku Ahnad Tajuddin's try found Chua Boon Huat's stick, but the ball tricked out inches wide.
   New Zealand won heir second penalty corner in the 30th minute, and this time Marhan Jalil charges to deny the Kiwis.
  At half-time, it was 2-0 for New Zealand as far as penalty corners were concerned.
  Malaysia started the second half looking crisp as Faizal Saari almost cracks the Kiwi side-board with a powerful shot.
  And after a series of concerted attacks, 11-time Azlan Shah Cup veteran Chua Boon Huat opens scoring with a super field attempt in the 40th minute, and that was the signal needed by Malaysia to push harder.
  Four minutes later, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin makes it count with a top of the circle shot, and Malaysia went on an attack mode after that and won their first penalty corner of the match in the 48th minute, but failed to increase the lead.
  But after taking a 2-0 lead, Malaysia started playing like novices, even though the Kiwis look like they were ready to get onto their bus and head back to the team hotel.
  New Zealand scored their first goal off their second penalty corner in the 65th minute when Shay Neal scored a simple set-piece, but Malaysia did just enough in the remaining minutes to secure three valuable points.
  RESULTS: Australia 6 Pakistan 0, South Korea 2 India 1, Malaysia 2 New Zealand 1.

STANDINGS

               P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts


AUSTRALIA      2  2  0  0  10 3  6
MALAYSIA       2  2  0  0  5  3  6
PAKISTAN       2  1  0  1  4  9  3
KOREA          2  1  0  1  4  4  3
N ZEALAND      1  0  0  1  3  4  0
INDIA          2  0  0  2  4  6  0

Korea 2 India 1..

SOUTH Korea came prepared for a win, and they followed their coaches script to edge India 2-1 in Ipoh yesterday.
  After losing 3-2 to Malaysia, Korea held a good account of themselves and denied India, who dominated the second half with six penalty corners, but were frustrated by speedy first runners.
  "We knew the strength of the India side, and we came prepared to block their penalty corners and also some of their key players. It worked and we got their three points to keep our campaign alive," said Korean coach Shin Seok Kyo.
  India coach kept to the same script, as he said they are in an ongoing process to strengthen their juniors side.
  "We came with 10 Junior World Cup players and their inexperience showed in the first half, but they came back strongly in the second half but could not conveert. We are building a young side, so the result was not too bad," said India coach Michael Nobbs.
  The Koreans dominated proceedings and the agile Indian custodian P.R. Sreejest kept them at bay, making some saves that were almost impossible to pull off.
  Korea made it count from their second penalty corner as Nam Hyun Woo relayed the ball to the right for Kang Moon Kweon to deflect it into the roof of the India goal in the 29th minute.
  Although Korea were awarded two more penalty corner in the closing minutes of the first half, they could not add to their tally.
  India were on level terms four minutes upon resumption, thanks to some great work by Mandeep Singh on the right who evaded two defenders before setting up Malak Singh to tap into an empty goal.
  However, India went down in the 60th minute when Kang scored his second goal when he connected a long hit from Jung Man Jae.
 


  RESULTS: Australia 6 Pakistan 0, South Korea 2 India 1, Malaysia x New Zealand x.

STANDINGS

               P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts


AUSTRALIA      2  2  0  0  10 3  6
PAKISTAN       2  1  0  1  4  9  3
MALAYSIA       1  1  0  0  3  2  3
INDIA          2  0  0  2  4  6  0
N ZEALAND      1  0  0  1  3  4  0
KOREA          2  1  0  1  4  4  3

Australia 6 Pakistan 0

WORLD No 2 Australia hammered Pakistan 6-0 in a display of clinical finishing at the Azlan Shah Hockey Stadium in Ipoh yesterday.
  After struggling 4-3 against India on Saturday, the Aussies were in no mood to entertain the Pakistan players who felt the full brunt of their powerful attack.
  The margin was only eclipsed by their own record against Pakistan, a 7-0 drubbing in the London Olympics last year.
  Yesterday, it took the Aussies only 17 minutes to open a 3-0 lead, and that snuffed the fighting spirit in the Pakistanis.
  Australia took the lead in the eigtht minute through Daniel Mirecki who picked up a loose ball in the semi circle to smash it home with the Pakistan defenders caught flat footed, with keeper Imran Butt out of position.
  And in the very next minute Matt Ghodes placed the ball into the corner of the Pakistani goal when all were expecting him to make a pass.
  The script turned from bad to worse for Pakistan, as they conceded a third in the 17th minute, this time Jacob Whetton sneaked in behind the defense to deflect a pass from Matt Ghodes into the roof of the net.
    And a minute before the halftime hooter, Australia netted their fourth, with Whetton getting his stick onto a long ball out of defence to steer it past Imran.
  Daniel Beale made it 5-0 in the 45th minute, getting the final touch from a penalty corner attempt by Nicholas Budgeon.
  Pakistan were a beaten side and it showed as the players kept looking at the clock, hoping for an end to their misery.
  Nicholas converted a penalty corner in the 61st minute to make it 6-0
.