Embarassing 2-4 Defeat to TnT..

From NURSYABIHA SUKRI

GLASGOW, July 29 (Bernama) -- The National men's hockey squad suffered an embarrassing 2-4 defeat to hockey minnows Trinidad and Tobago in a Commonwealth Games Group B match at the National Hockey Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland today.
    The defeat, Malaysia's second in a row, after having lost 1-8 to England two days ago, has virtually 'killed off' Malaysia's chances of moving into the next stage.
   Trinidad and Tobago, virtually an unknown hockey playing nation, took the lead in the 8th minute through a penalty corner strike by Mickell Peirre before Kwandwane Browne made it 2-0 three minutes later.
   Browne continued to pile on the misery for the Malaysians with his second of the night and his country's third in the 15th minute.
   Malaysia managed to reduce the deficit through Norhizzat Sumatri in the 24th minute but Browne was again on target to complete his hat-trick and score Trinidad and Tobago's fourth in the 35th minute.
   Leading 4-1 by half-time, the Trinidad and Tobago players seemed to have lifted their legs off the pedal in the second half to allow Malaysia to reduce the deficit through Muhammad Ramadan Rosli's 69th minute strike.
    Speaking of the shocking result, National assistant coach K. Gobinathan admitted that the team accepted responsibility for the defeat.
   "It was clear that Trinidad and Tobago had their own quality and were certainly the better side although they are not ranked among the world hockey powers.
   "We had a slow start and the defeat was a shocking result. Trinidad and Tobago cannot be underestimated since most of the players are playing in the English league," he said.
   Malaysia will next face New Zealand in their final group match on Thursday and based on current results, the National squad's campaign in Glasgow is as good as over as chances of making it to the next stage looks remote.

-- BERNAMA