India 2 Malaysia 0

MALAYSIA let slip another chance to touch the Asia Cup trophy when they bungled
more than 10 sitters to hand the final slot to India 2-0 at the Azlan Shah Stadium in
Ipoh yesterday.
    There was an inspiring performance from Paul Revington's men, but they just could
not score while India had to bring out their best to play in the final against South
Korea tomorrow.
   The national team will now play for bronze, against Pakistan, who will not feature in
the World Cup for the first time since its inception in 1971.
    "I'm sorry that Pakistan will not play in the World Cup, but at the same time
congratulations to Malaysia and India. Malaysia will be back in the World Cup after 12
years, and they have worked hard for it," said Korean coach Shin Seok Kyo.
   As for Malaysian coach Paul Revington: "I'm very disappointed with the defeat, as we
created the chances, but did not take them. Now, I will have to motivate the players to
go for the bronze, as that is the only option left."
   A good 30 minutes before the match started, the Malaysian flag was displayed on the
scoreboard and patriotic Merdeka songs were played to whip up the capacity crowd.
   And Malaysia started on a sizzling note, as in the first two minutes itself, Faizal
Saari and Nabil Fiqri blazed into the semi-circle, but their shots were just inches wide.
   South Korea had beaten Pakistan 2-1 in the earlier semi-finals, a result which took
India into the World Cup going by the World League reserve list, and so the second
semi-finals was reduced to the Asia Cup title battle.
   The world League format saw three Asian teams qualify for the Netherlands World
Cup next year -- Korea, Malaysia and India.
   Pakistan, four-time World Cup champions, will sit out for the first time since its
inception in 1971.
   In the first semi-finals, the Korean goals were scored by Jang Jong Hyun (31st) and
Lee Nam Young (40th) while the Pakistan goal was scored by Muhammad Imran (46ht).
    Malaysia looked more determined, but it was India who nailed the first goal off their
first penalty corner in the eighth minute when VR Raghunath nailed his sixth goal of
the tournament.
     There was never a dull moment  20 minutes into the match, as Malaysia went for
the equaliser but miss again as Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin's shot is also just wide, and
the tale of misses continued until the half-time as Malaysia even failed to win a single
penalty corner.
    After the break, Malaysia kept up the pressure and after another handful of bungled
attempts, they finally win their first penalty corner of the match in the 45th minute.
    The ball hits an Indian runners leg and there was a follow on penalty corner but
goalkeeper PR Sreejesh brings out a super save when Razie Rahim made the second
attempt.
     The Malaysian forwardline kept bungling sitters, and in the 60th minute Mandeep
Singh had the easiest task of tapping in the ball from close range to increase the lead
to 2-0.
   RESULTS: Semi-finals -- Pakistan 1 South Korea 2; Malaysia 0 India 2.
   Fifth-Eighth: Japan 3 Bangladesh 0, Oman 2 Taiwan 2 (Oman win shoot-out).
   SATURDAY: Fifth-Sixth -- Japan v Oman (8pm); Seventh-Eighth: Taiwan v Bangladesh
(5.30pm).
   SUNDAY: Final -- South Korea v India (8pm); Third-Fourth: Pakistan v Malaysia
(5.35pm).

Korea shut the World Cup door on Pakistan

DEFENDING Asia Cup champions South Korea edged Pakistan out of the World Cup for the first time since 1971, with a polished 2-1 win at the Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh yesterday.
  But the Korean win dragged World League Fourth Reserves India into the World Cup, even before they played  in the second semi-finals against Malaysia.
   This is because Malaysia and Korea had already qualified for the World Cup, and it does not matter if India, Malaysia or Korea win the Asia Cup title on Sunday -- India will play in the Netherlands World Cup next year. 
   "I'm sorry that Pakistan will not play in the World Cup, but at the same time congratulations to Malaysia and India. Malaysia will be back in the World Cup after 12 years, and they have worked hard for it," said Korean coach Shin Seok Kyo.
    South Korea played like it was a friendly match, and 20 minutes into the first half, they had yet to take a single shot at goal.
  Pakistan looked more desperate as they pushed forward, but skipper Muhammad Imran shot wide a third minute penalty corner.
   The Pakistan forwards kept making inroads with fast breaks, but either shot wide, or were stopped by goalkeeper Lee Myung Ho.
   But with six minutes to the break, Korea finally won their first penalty corner and Jang Jong Hyun scored his seventh goal of the tournament.
   Playing under a constant drizzle, Korea took the lead into the break, as Pakistan plan a comeback to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
   Korea were again the better side, and increased the lead off Lee Nam Yong in the 40th minute, when the veteran picked up a penalty corener rebound and tucked in the ball from close range.
    But Pakistan refused to break down, and increased the tempo of the match and finally narrowed the gap to 1-2 off their third penalty corner. This time, Imran was on target with a sizzler in the 46th minute.
    Pakistan fought gallantly for the equaliser, pushing every man forward and even took out the goalkeeper Salman Akbar and replacing him with a kicking back when only two minutes remained in the match.
   But the equaliser never came and Pakistan were bundled out of the World Cup for the first time since its inception in 1971.
   
           
   RESULTS: Semi-finals -- Pakistan 1 South Korea 2; Malaysia x India x.
   Fifth-Eighth: Japan 3 Bangladesh 0, Oman 2 Taiwan 2 (Oman win shoot-out).
   SATURDAY: Fifth-Sixth -- Japan v Oman (8pm); Seventh-Eigtht: Taiwan v Bangladesh (5.30pm).
   SUNDAY: Final -- South Korea v x (8pm); Third-Fourth: Pakistan v x (5.35pm).