Malaysia keep the fire burning..

 Razie Rahim gets a hug after scoring his fifth goal of the tournament against Pakistan.

MALAYSIA kept the fire burning for a fifth place finish in the World League Semi-finals when they beat world No 5 Pakistan 3-1 at the Taman Daya Stadium yesterday.
  Now, they will meet Japan in the Fifth-Sixth playoff today, and a win might just see them play in the World Cup after the Continental championships are over.
  And skipper Shahrun Nabil answered what was the difference between this win and the 4-4 draw against Pakistan in Group B.
  "Then, we played well in the first half and lost concentration in the second, and today (yesterday), we played good hockey for at least 60 minutes," said Shahrun.
  Malaysian coach Paul Revington said Japan will not be easy, but he has his plans.
  "Obviously we will play for fifth, and I have a plan towards that. The players are in a very happy mood now, but I will have to bring them down a little so that they do not become overconfident in the last crucial match of the tournament," said Revington.
  Malaysia were not dangerous, but calculative in their first half approach, as they calmly build their game from behind.
  There was no hurry for goals, but they came anyway off the first penalty corner, and then luck sided them with an own goal gift.
  Razie Rahim scored his fifth goal of the tournament with a low penalty corner flick in the 14th minute but even before the cheers could die down, Pakistan hit back with the equaliser.
  Shafqat Rasool nailed the equaliser with a soft touch in the 16th minute and the game opened up a little.
  However, luck rode on Malaysia's back as a 19th minute hit into the semi-circle by Faizal Saari was deflected into goal by Pakistan goalkeeper Imran Butt and Malaysia took the lead into the breather.
  Immediately after resumption, Malaysia took the match to the Pakistan half, and another brilliant cross from Faizal in the 38th minute which was tucked in for 3-1 by Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin.
  But after taking a two goal lead, Malaysia started to live dangerously again as they allowed Pakistan too much space and the ball hit the post, as well as whizzed out inches wide to the amazement of the Pakistan strikers.
  With five minutes left to victory, skipper Shahrun Nabil took a nasty hit to the head and went tumbling down. But he woke up and continued to help Malaysia at the back-line.
  In the other Fifth-Eight classification, Japan and South Africa drew 2-2 and went into the shootout. And it produced only one goal, which Kei Kawakami scored to take them into the higher classification.
  In regulation time, the Japan goals were scored by Manabu Hatakeyama (33rd) and a 70th minute own goal, while the South African goals were scored by Craig Haley (56th) and Wade Paton (62nd).

  RESULTS: Fifth-Eight: South Africa 2 Japan 2 (Japan win shoot-out 1-0); Pakistan 1 Malaysia 3.
  Semi-finals: Argentina x England x; Germany x South Korea x.
  TODAY: Seventh-Eighth: South Africa v Pakistan (2.45pm); Fifth-Sixth: Japan v Malaysia (5pm).
  Third-Fourth: x v x (7.15pm); Final: x v x (9.30pm).

Japan edge South Africa in shoot-out

In the other Fifth-Eight classification, Japan and South Africa drew 2-2 and went into the shootout. And it produced only one goal, which Kei Kawakami scored to take them into the higher classification.
  In regulation time, the Japan goals were scored by Manabu Hatakeyama (33rd) and a 70th minute own goal, while the South African goals were scored by Craig Haley (56th) and Wade Paton (6nd).

Pakistan or bust..

MALAYSIA play Pakistan in the Fifth-Eighth classification of the World League Semi-finals today, and can't afford another drubbing at The Taman Daya Stadium.
  For, at stake is the fifth spot, which might just turn into a World Cup ticket after the continental championship fixtures are completed.
  "Nothing went right for 20 minutes against Germany (where Malaysia were drubbed 6-0 inside the first 18 minutes) but lets forget that painful episode, as we look towards a fifth finish to improve our rankings and also a possible outside chance to the World Cup," said a visibly shaken Malaysian coach after the German nightmare.
  There are many 'ifs' involved in this fifth placing possibility, and even an International Hockey Federation (FIH) official who was shocked at how tamely Malaysia crumbled tried to comfort the press.
  "Take heart as there is the fifth spot, which might just turn into a World Cup berth after the continental championships are over," he said.
  There is the Pan American Cup, Asia Cup, EuroHockey Nations Championship and the Oceania Cup to complete the fixtures yet.
  And if Argentina qualifies from Johor Baru and also become champions in the Pan American Cup, another slot opens up in the World League.
  The same scenario happens if South Korea qualifies and then wins the Asia Cup, as well as Australia who has already qualified for the World Cup becomes champions in the Oceania Cup.
  And in the EuroHockey Nations Championship, the prospect is even higher as Germany, England, Belgium and the Netherlands have all qualified for the World Cup -- and if either one wins in Europe, the door for World League teams opens wider.
  So, the fifth spot is priceless, not imaginary, and Malaysia need to keep their head high and work their way towards that target now.
  Malaysia raced to a 3-0 lead before being held 4-4 by Pakistan in Group B, and that is what Revington and his men must avoid at all cost today.
  After which, they must beat either Japan or South Africa, to prove that they are truly a team which deserves to play in the World Cup.
  Pakistan officials, who were still reeling over their defeat to South Korea in the quarter-finals, were not available for comment on the Asian encounter.
  TODAY: Fifth-Eight: South Africa v Japan (2.45pm); Pakistan v Malaysia (5pm).
  Semi-finals: Argentina v England (7.15pm); Germany v South Korea (9.30pm).