Malaysia fourth again..

MALAYSIA'S quest to lay their hands on the Asia Cup bronze fell flat, as Pakistan played with more zest to claim it on a 3-1 score at the Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh yesterday.
   The hosts, who had qualified for the World Cup, were beaten in all departments by Pakistan who will sit out their first World Cup since its inception in 1971.
    "I am disappointed with the way we finished in this tournament as there was someting lacking in attack and also our penalty corners conversion rate was at its worst.
   "Something needs to be done in these two areas (finishing and penalty corners) if we want to achieve results in future," said Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
   Coach Paul Revington echoed the sentiments: "Yes, the penalty corner conversion rate was not as expected but Razie (Rahim) and Faizal (Saari's) shoulders are sore from flicking in this tournament.
    "Once they recover, we will work on them further to improve their flicks," said Revington.
    The first overhead flick won Malaysia a penalty corner in the first minute, but Razie Rahim's attempt was deflected by goalkeeper Salman Akbar and the ball hit the top bar and sailed out.
   And in the second minute, the clouds opened up and heavy rain made play much more difficult.
    Malaysia had lost 4-1 to Pakistan in the group stages, but looked much more dangerous than Pakistan in the bronze battle. Only heavy rain made it difficult for both sides to score.
   For the record, Malaysia lost the Asia Cup bronze medal  to China in the last edition in Kuantan 7-6 on penalty strokes after being held 3-3 in regulation time.
    The heavy rain never let up in the first half, making hitting and pushing almost impossible as Malaysia  keep defending penalty corners, and reduced to counter attacks in the final five minutes.
    Faizal Saari finally gave Malaysia the lead in the 34th minute with a diving attempt, but right after the restart, Pakistan's Haseem Khan nailed the equaliser with a field attempt, as the scoreboard clock showed seven seconds to half-time.
   After the breather, the rain finally stops, and Pakistan move forward to increase their lead. And they finally score in the 54nd minute off their fifth penalty corner when Muhammed Imran sent in a powerful drive.
     More misery crept into the Malaysian bench, as immediately after the restart, a Malaysian goal was disallowed, while in the 56th minute, Razie Rahim scores an own goal to make the score 3-1 for Pakistan.
   And in the following minutes, Pakistan goalkeeper Salman Akbar brings out five super saves to send Malaysia reeling on their knees.

Bronze to Pakistan..

MALAYSIA'S quest to lay their hands on the Asia Cup bronze fell flat, as Pakistan
played with more zest to claim it on a 3-1 score at the Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh
yesterday.
   The hosts, who had qualified for the World Cup, were beaten in all departments by
Pakistan who will sit out their first World Cup since its inception in 1971.

Predictable till the end

REGIMENTAL: Malaysia’s inability to vary penalty corners costs them heavily in Asia Cup

MALAYSIA paid the price for being stereotype and regimental in their  approach against India in their Asia Cup semi-final at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium on Friday.
The 2-0 defeat has now relegated Paul Revington's men to battle Pakistan for the bronze medal.
Stereotype to the hilt in penalty corners, all 25 that they won in the four matches in Ipoh were direct flick attempts by either Razie Rahim of Faizal Saari.
There was never a single set-piece attempt, which had resulted in many goals in previous tournaments including the World League Semi-finals.
And the fact that Malaysia have the services of drag flick coach Adel Fuentes of Argentina might have some influence on the decision to do away with indirect attempts, where normally the goals come after deflections from either Azlan Misron or Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin's sticks.
The team were also regimental in their attack, where the forwards kept missing sitters after receiving crosses from the right, or left.
There was never an attempt to change the attacking plan in the entire 70 minutes against India.
"Definitely disappointed with the outcome of the match, and even though we have already qualified for the World Cup, we were looking for the Asia Cup gold medal before starting against India.
"We missed too many chances, and were relegated to the bronze medal match for missing sitters," said Revington.
India coach Roelant Oltmans summed up the difference between his team and Malaysia.
"After South Korea beat Pakistan in the first semi-final, we knew to a certain degree that we had already qualified for the World Cup, well, unless Papua New Guinea or Samoa beat New Zealand and Australia to the Oceania Cup title.
"But I thought that is a different tournament and we had the Asia Cup semi-finals to play for after that. And I could sense in the pre-match meeting that my players wanted to win the semi-final badly, and they achieved it with precision attacking," said Roelant.
Precision was the word, as India scored off their first penalty corner, and the second attempt was a rare counter-attack break which caught all the outfield Malaysian players in the Indian half -- and goalkeeper S.Kumar was outnumbered.
On the other hand, at least 10 sitters came Malaysia's way, but the forwards bungled them all by taking wild shots and even wilder swings.
Yes, Malaysia have qualified for the Netherlands World Cup next year after a 12-year hiatus, but the buildup must start with the Asia Cup bronze today.
After which, Revington must prepare his team to avoid embarrassing hammerings, like the 6-0 against Germany in the World League.

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).