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MALAYSIA only played hockey in the second quarter, and were punished when they lost 3-2 to South Korea in Ipoh yesterday.
Now, they must beat Canada on Saturday, and hope that Australia beat India to play in the third-fourth classification.
Right after the Negaraku was sung, and even before the crowd could settle down on their seats, the Malaysian defense cracked when Lee Jung Jun scored off a third minute field attempt.
The first quarter was a tensed affair for Malaysia as Korea camped in the hosts semi-circle, and Malaysia relied on counter-attacks. Korea had two penalty corners, and the first was saved by Baljit Singh, while Baljit and goalkeeper S. Kumar made gallant saved to stop the second attempt.
Korea piled more misery when in the 29th minute Lee Nam Young's top-of-the semi-circle caught Kumar wrong footed, as his view was blocked by defender Azlan Misron, and Korea walked into the dressing room for a well-deserved half-time water break.
Malaysia need a dressing down during the break, as they played their worse game of the tournament thus far.
Strikers Faizal Saari, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin and Firhan Ashaari played defensive, and when they went up to attack, they lost the ball easily and had to back-pedal, burning energy for no reason.
Malaysian coach Tai Beng Hai must have trashed his charges, as after the re-start, they won the first penalty corner in the 32nd minute and Faizal's powerful drive beat goalkeeper Kim Jaeh Yeon with ease.
It was match-on for Malaysia after that spectacular goal.
Cheered on by a capacity crowd, Malaysia went on the attack and won their second penalty corner and this time Razie Rahim's drive went crashing into the net for a 34th minute 2-2 equaliser.
But sloppy defending crept in again, and Kim Young Jin gave Korea the lead again off a soft field attempt one minute later.
There was plenty of effort put in by the men in yellow, but the clock ran out on them as they went looking for the equaliser.
Meanwhile, Australia qualified for the final with a game in hand when they beat New Zealand 3-1. Australia play India in the last pool match on Saturday, and it will be a warm-up before they make an attempt for a ninth Azlan Shah Cup title.
New Zealand play South Korea and still have a chance to join their neighbours in the Sunday final.
Dylan Wotherspoon (17th), Jamie Dwyer (24th) and Jeremy Hayward (28th) scored for Australia while Andy Hayward (32nd) scored the Kiwi consolation.
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
AUSTRALIA 4 4 0 0 18 5 12
N ZEALAND 4 3 0 1 12 6 9
S KOREA 4 2 1 1 10 10 7
INDIA 4 1 1 2 10 10 4
MALAYSIA 4 1 0 3 9 12 3
CANADA 4 0 0 4 4 20 0
RESULTS: India 5 Canada 3, New Zealand 1 Australia 3, Malaysia 2 South Korea 3.
April 10: REST DAY.
April 11: Australia v India (4pm), South Korea v New Zealand (6pm), Malaysia v Canada (8pm).
MALAYSIA beat Asian Games champions India 3-2 in a thrilling Azlan Shah Cup match in Ipoh yesterday, to keep their hopes alive of playing in the final.
Coach Tai Beng Hai's men played well in patches, and took the lead twice only to give India back a life-line on both occassions, but Shahrun Nabil nailed a late winner in the 58th minute and now, Malaysia must beat South Korea today, and Canada on Saturday for an outside shot at playing in the final.
The game was delayed by an hour due to torrential rain, and after the negaraku, Malaysian goalkeeper S. Kumar @Spiderman was rewarded for his 250th international appearance.
Malaysia were ontop of India in the first quarter, but failed to break the deadlock.
Faizal Saari, who skipped two months of training, missed a sitter in the opening minutes of the match, but made up with a penalty corner goal.
Baljit Singh dribbled three India players and made a reverse stick pass to Faizal who made a darting run into the semi-circle but failed to shoot straight. For the record, Faizal scored 12 goals in the World League Round Two in Singapore but scored his first in three matches yesterday.
It was a 17th minute penalty corner, Malaysia's first, and Faizal's drag flick almost tore the netting.
But three minutes later, India won their first penalty corner and a low push by Rupinder Singh beat the postman for the equaliser, and the score remained until the half-time break.
After the re-start, Malaysia claimed the lead again when a move from Firhan Ashari found unmarked Haziq Samsul who tucked in from close range in the 35th minute for 2-1.
Malaysia made too many mistakes in the fourth quarter and gave away easy penalty cornees and in the 50th minute, India won their fifth and Rupinder equalised with a powerful drive.
Shahrun Nabil had the last say in the 58th minute, when he scored a classic goal to give Malaysia a well deserved win.
Malaysia play South Korea today, but Korean coach Shin Seok Kyo failed to show up for the press conference .. for the second time in a row.
Shin was warned by the tournament director for missing the press conference after the Canada match on Monday, but he still refused to show up for interview yesterday.
New Zealand and Australia have maximum points after three matches, and barring upsets in the remaining two matches, the Oceania neighbours will play in the final on Sunday.
Yesterday, the Kiwis trashed Canada 5-0, while Australia easily beat South Korea 5-2 with a hat-trick from Jamie Dwyer, who helped the Aussies win their second consecutive World Cup title last year.
Today, Australia and New Zealand clash and a draw will see them play in the final. Australia have India as their final opponents, while New Zealand face South Korea on Saturday.
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
AUSTRALIA 3 3 0 0 15 4 9
N ZEALAND 3 3 0 0 11 3 9
S KOREA 3 1 1 1 7 8 4
MALAYSIA 3 1 0 2 7 9 3
INDIA 3 0 1 2 5 7 1
CANADA 3 0 0 3 1 15 0
RESULTS: Canada 0 New Zealand 5, South Korea 2 Australia 5, Malaysia 3 India 2.
April 9: India v Canada (4pm), New Zealand v Australia (6pm), Malaysia v South Korea (8pm).
April 10: REST DAY.
April 11: Australia v India (4pm), South Korea v New Zealand (6pm), Malaysia v Canada (8pm).
ASIA'S number one goalkeeper S. Kumar is now officially the new Spiderman of Malaysia.
The accolade was first given to soccer legend R. Arumugam who defended the soccer goalmouth in the 70s. Kumar rightfully earned the title on Monday when he defended with tenacity to help Malaysia keep their heads high in a thrilling 3-2 defeat to Australia in the Azlan Shah Cup.
World number 12 Malaysia had a fairytale match and Australia had to dig deep into their reserves with World Cup star Jamie Dwyer, brought out from retirement, using all his experience before finally beating Kumar with a penalty stroke and then a field goal.
The Spiderman, from Tampin Negri Sembilan, saved at least eight point blank shots and six penalty corner attempts to frustrate Australia. For the record, Australia retained the 2014 World Cup by hammering Olympic Silver medallists the Netherlands 6-1. Dwyer scored the sixth goal at the Haque final.
"The feeling is great as not only I, but the entire team played good hockey against Australia but at the same time Im also frustrated because we came close to stealing a point but lost out on experience to the world champions," said Kumar.
At the Hague, Australia were high up almost touching the stars, while Kumar and his mates finished rooted at the bottom.
Kumar took Malaysia into the World Cup when he defended his goalmouth from Japan strikers like a lion in the World League Semifinals penalty shoot-out in Johor Baru. And in January, he was there again to stop Japan in a penalty shoot-out in the semi-finals of the World League Round Two to take Malaysia into the WL Semi-finals in Belgium.
Belgium offers tickets to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics: "Ive never played in the Olympics and with age fast catching up
With me, Belgium could be my last chance and Im not about to cave in without giving my very best," said Kumar, 35.
Last year Malaysia were hammered 8-3 by Australia in the final of the Azlan Shah Cup but Kumar did not play in the tournament as he had personal matters to attend to.
Juniors goalkeeper Hafizuddin Othman was the gatekeeper then, and Australia had a field beating the kid who made his Azlan Shah Cup debut.
Former national coach K. Dharmaraj who is now a National Sports Council development coach, is in Ipoh for the tournament and lamented on the lack of a capable replacement when Kumar retires.
"Kumar is among the best goalkeepers in the world right now, but sadly we do not have a capable replacement when he decides to call it a day. There are many juniors who aspire to become goalkeepers and some have been sent to the Netherlands right as we speak to make them on par or even better than Kumar. But it will take time and Im afraid there will be a big vacuum for years in the goalkeeping department and that could mean trouble for the national team. Goalkeeping is a special department that needs urgent attention because a country which is weak in that department can never break into the top five in the world," said Dharmaraj.
Malaysia play India today and another defeat could see the silver medallists fighting to avoid the last spot in Ipoh.
India coach Paul van Ass is confident his men will prevail: "India played well in both the matches but did not get the desired results as even though the my player have good skills, I still need to strenghten the tactical and mental side of the game and that's what we are here for. Malaysia are a very challenging side but I believe we have the advantage."
Asian Games champions India have already qualified for the Olympics, so they can afford to experiment with their new coach van Ass in Ipoh as well as the World League Semifinals in Belgium.
For Malaysia, the Azlan Shah Cup is the last avenue for top exposure before heading to Belgium in June for a shot at Olympic glory which the country last experienced in Sydney 2000.
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
AUSTRALIA 2 2 0 0 10 2 6
N ZEALAND 2 2 0 0 6 3 6
S KOREA 2 1 1 0 5 3 4
INDIA 2 1 1 0 3 4 1
MALAYSIA 2 0 0 2 4 7 0
CANADA 2 0 0 2 1 10 0
April 7: REST DAY.
April 8: Canada v New Zealand (4pm), South Korea v Australia (6pm), Malaysia v India (8pm).
April 9: India v Canada (4pm), New Zealand v Australia (6pm), Malaysia v South Korea (8pm).
April 10: REST DAY.
April 11: Australia v India (4pm), South Korea v New Zealand (6pm), Malaysia v Canada (8pm).
AUSTRALIA needed the experienced Jamie Dwyer to beat a stubborn Malaysia 3-2 in an entertaining Azlan Shah Cup match in Ipoh yesterday.
The world number 1 could do nothing right until the fourth quarter when Dwyer scored off a penalty stroke and then a field goal. Malaysia fought like Tigers but the world no 12 just did not have the final roar needed to hold Australia to a draw.
Malaysia gave Australia a run for the money when stout defending by Baljit Singh and agile goalkeeping by S. Kumar failed to break the deadlock early.
Australia had a lions' share in the first quarter but Kumar transformed into spiderman and stopped a handful of point blank attempts to keep Malaysia in the match.
The second quarter saw Malaysia open up and start attacking and won two penalty corners but attempts by Faizal Saari and Razie Rahim's were close but failed to give a hardworking Malaysian side the much awaited lead.
Australia did not panic but looked composed as they stoped Malaysia's attempts while slowly moving up again in the second quarter.
Malaysia'best chance came in the 24th minute when Meor Azuan saw himself face to face with Australian goalkeeper Trisian Clemons but his reverse stick just went wide and the world no 1 were let off the hook.
Even though it was a Monday night but still the Azlan Shah Stadium was half filled with a noisy bunch of schoolchildren whose cheers kept the Malaysian team playing with their hearts.
With one minute remaining in the second quarter, Shahrun Nabil was flashed the yellow card and this made Malaysia's task of defending much more harder in the third quarter.
Australia started making some basic mistakes and Malaysia were still in thr game when Ramadan Rosli won the fifth penalty corner in the 39th minute but Razie's high drive was easily palmed away by goalkeeper Clemons.
The world no 1 could only score off a penalty stroke in the 43rd minute when Ahmad Kazamirul brough down Glen Simpson. Jamie Dwyer beat Kumar with a high flick from the spot.
Dwyer again broke the Malaysian hearts when he scored a field goal in the 53rd minute, he's the most capped Australin with 323 caps and an old hand in Olympics and World Cups.
However Firhan Ashari shocked the world champions with a field goal in the 57th minute, but Dylan Wotherspoon quickly doused the fightback fire the very next minute to make it 3-1.
Just when the crown felt the match was over and done with Malaysia won their seventh penalty corner and a push from Kazamirul saw Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin deflect home in the 59th minute but the clock died down and Australia were let of the hook.
In another match, New Zealand surprised Asian Games champions India 2-1for their secind win after beating Malaysia 4-2 on Sunday. The Kiwis now have a realistic chance of playing in the final as they take a days rest before meting winless Canada on Wednesday.
Malaysian coach Tai Beng Hai lauded the positive fight:" Im happy with the commitment shown in both our matches so far as wenfought back from two goals down. But it is not easy to play the best in the world but we gave our best."
Australian coach Graham Reid was a relieved man when the final whistle blew: "I think when Malaysia play in ipoh they give their all and even willing to die for the country. I think the posts need to be checked because they must be thicker than usual, because they just keep stopping our attempts (joked Reid)."
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
AUSTRALIA 2 2 0 0 10 2 6
N ZEALAND 2 2 0 0 6 3 6
MALAYSIA 2 0 0 2 4 7 0
S KOREA 2 1 1 0 5 3 4
INDIA 2 1 1 0 3 4 1
CANADA 2 0 0 2 1 10 0
RESULTS: Canada 1 South Korea 3, New Zealand 2 India 1, Malaysia 2 Australia 3.
April 7: REST DAY.
April 8: Canada v New Zealand (4pm), South Korea v Australia (6pm), Malaysia v India (8pm).
April 9: REST DAY.
April 10: Australia v India (4pm), South Korea v New Zealand (6pm), Malaysia v Canada (8pm).
MALAYSIA were brilliant in patches, but lost their script early in the match to go down 2-4 to New Zealand in the 24th Edition of the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh yesterday.
Playing in front of a capacity crowd, a handful of horrible mistakes saw the Kiwis take an early lead, and then power to a win in the last five minutes of the match.
Next are world No 1 Australia today, and all Malaysia can do in this match is to reduce the score.
Coach Tai Beng Hai's charges had a pathetic start, as by the fifth minute they were 2-0 down to the Kiwis. There consecutive penalty corners finally saw Nick Haig nail the lead in the third minute.
And even before the defense could settle down, New Zealand skipper Simon Child's reverse stick shot gave the Kiwis a 2-0 lead in the fifth.
Ramadan Rosli, 24, brought out the cheers from the capacity crowd when his deft touch narrowed the game to 1-2 in the 19th minute. Malaysia lived dangerously after that, but a series of saves from goalkeeper S. Kumar kept them in the match.
The third quarter saw a better show from the hosts, with near misses and almost there show. The match finally lit up with 15 minutes left on the clock when Malaysia won their first penalty corner, but Razie Rahim's drive was saved by the goalkeeper and a follow on volley from Azlan Misron went flying above the goalmouth.
But all was not lost in the opening match as a super goal from Shahrun Nabil in the 62nd minute saw Malaysia draw level but off their sixth penalty corner, Andy Hayward nails the lead in the 65th minute, while Shay Neal made sure with a fourth in the 68th minute.
The only good news in the match yesterday was that Azlan Misron was rewarded for reaching a milestone 337 caps, but that recognition failed to light up his game.
In the opening match, world no 1 Australia whipped Canada 7-0 and are looking forward to another win when they play Malaysia today.
Australian coach Graham Reid said they needed to get rid of the cobwebs early, as they struggled against Canada in the early part: "Canada played extremely well, especially in the first 15 minutes to keep our boys in check. But if was good to get rid of the cobwebs in the first match as we play the hosts tomorrow (today)."
"Malaysia are always a tough side to beat in Ipoh, and I expect a tough game, and we need to stop their speedy forward Faizal (Saari) from doing much damage," said Reid.
India and South Korea played to a 2-2 draw, with Korean coach Shin Seok Kyo grinning from ear-to-ear: "We came here looking for a win against India and so the 2-2 draw is quite disappointing, but we are still in the tournament, and looking forward to improve in the next match (Canada)," said Shin.
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
AUSTRALIA 1 1 0 0 7 0 3
N ZEALAND 1 1 0 0 4 2 3
MALAYSIA 1 0 0 1 2 4 0
S KOREA 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
INDIA 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
CANADA 1 0 0 1 0 7 0
RESULTS: Australia 7 Canada 0, India 2 South Korea 2, Malaysia 2 New Zealand 4.
FIXTURES: April 6: Canada v South Korea (4pm), New Zealand v India (6pm), Malaysia v Australia (8pm).
April 7: REST DAY.
April 8: Canada v New Zealand (4pm), South Korea v Australia (6pm), Malaysia v India (8pm).
April 9: REST DAY.
April 10: Australia v India (4pm), South Korea v New Zealand (6pm), Malaysia v Canada (8pm).
