Better show: Malaysia 7 Oman 0

MALAYSIA played to their rankings and beat Oman 7-0 to virtually seal the top spot in Group A of the World League Second Round at the Sengkang Stadium yesterday.
   Their next opponents are Singapore today, but after the hosts were beaten 2-1 by Ukraine, Malaysia look set to seal the three points while Singapore will be out to reduce the goals.
   For the record, Malaysia beat Ukraine 5-1.
   "It was a good win but in this tournament there is no need to chase for goals, as a win is all we need to top the group and have an easier opponent in the quarter-finals. Today (yesterday) there was better understanding and structure and we have also better understanding of the pitch condition," said Malaysian coach Tai Beng Hai.
   On Singapore, which is their final Group A match: "Although Singapore have lost both their matches, but we cant take them lightly. We never take any team lightly, or undeestimate opponents, because that can be disastrous," said Beng Hai.
   Malaysia should beat Singapore and top Group A, and their likely quarter-finals opponents are Mexico.
   Although Oman parked the bus early at the Sengkang Stadium goalmouth, they could only last for seven minutes as Razie Rahim scored off the first penalty corner of the match.
   However, the Oman defense was more stubborn than anticipated, and two more penalty corners as well as four shots at goal were well defended as the teams went in for the first quarter water-break.
   But a minute after the break, 17th, Faizal Saari nailed the second goal and the game was almost sealed by Beng Hai's top seeded team.
   Oman, a hard-running team, were beaten again in the 22nd minute when Marhan Jalil scored off a penalty corner rebound.
    The fourth goal was made to look like a training drill, when Marhan tapped home from close range for his brace in the 27th minute. That eased the pressure and three other goals came with ease off Faizal Saari (38th), Izwan Firdaus (44th) and Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin (46th).