Thursday, April 16, 2015

Antwerp: World League Semi-finals fixtures (click on MALE icon)

  • MALE
    • DATEINFOTIMETEAMSSCORESTATUS
    June 20, 2015Pool A18:00 IND - FRA 0 - 0Upcoming
    Pool A20:00 PAK - POL 0 - 0Upcoming
    June 21, 2015Pool B12:00 CHN - MAS 0 - 0Upcoming
    Pool B16:00 GBR - BEL 0 - 0Upcoming
    Pool A18:00 AUS - FRA 0 - 0Upcoming
    June 23, 2015Pool B12:00 GBR - IRL 0 - 0Upcoming
    Pool A16:00 IND - POL 0 - 0Upcoming
    Pool B18:00 BEL - CHN 0 - 0Upcoming
    June 24, 2015Pool A14:00 POL - FRA 0 - 0Upcoming
    Pool A20:00 PAK - AUS 0 - 0Upcoming
    June 25, 2015Pool B14:00 MAS - IRL 0 - 0Upcoming
    Pool B16:00 GBR - CHN 0 - 0Upcoming
    June 26, 2015Pool B14:00 IRL - CHN 0 - 0Upcoming
    Pool A16:00 PAK - IND 0 - 0Upcoming
    Pool B18:00 MAS - BEL 0 - 0Upcoming
    Pool A20:00 AUS - POL 0 - 0Upcoming
    June 28, 2015Pool A12:00 PAK - FRA 0 - 0Upcoming
    Pool B14:00 MAS - GBR 0 - 0Upcoming
    Pool A16:00 IND - AUS 0 - 0Upcoming
    Pool B18:00 BEL - IRL 0 - 0Upcoming
    July 1, 20159th / 10th10:30  -  0 - 0Upcoming
    QF 113:00  -  0 - 0Upcoming
    QF 215:30  -  0 - 0Upcoming
    QF 318:00  -  0 - 0Upcoming
    QF 420:30  -  0 - 0Upcoming
    July 3, 20155th - 8th13:00  -  0 - 0Upcoming
    5th - 8th15:30  -  0 - 0Upcoming
    SF 118:00  -  0 - 0Upcoming
    SF 220:30  -  0 - 0Upcoming
    July 5, 20157th / 8th10:30  -  0 - 0Upcoming
    5th / 6th13:00  -  0 - 0Upcoming
    3rd / 4th15:30  -  0 - 0Upcoming
    Final18:00  -  0 - 0Upcoming
  • FEMALE
Posted by at

Malaysia's WL Semis fixtures drawn in heaven..

THE World League Semi-finals fixtures are so kind to Malaysia, that it would be quite difficult not to qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
  For, only a total mess up the first two easier matches in Antwerp, Belgium, from June 20 to July 5 will see Malaysia sit out of the Olympics which they last played in Sydney 2000.
  The heavens must have been smiling on coach Tai Beng Hai and his men as they play China first on June 21, and after a three-day break they play Ireland on June 25 and wins in both these matches might just see them play against Pakistan or India in the cross-over quarter-finals.
  Yes they have a three day break after playing Cina, ranked 31 in the world. Malaysia, for the record, are 12th in the World, while Ireland are 14th.
  Beng Hai's men will play the two toughest matches in their Group at the tail end.. as hosts Belgium are on June 26, and Great Britain on June 28.
  And for ealy preparations, the team will will head for Belgium on May 28 to play a series of friendly matches.
  Team manager Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad said matches have been lined up with Belgium and Germany, as well as club sides in their last Tour before the WL Semifinals.
  Malaysia finished last in the Azlan Shah Cup, but there were glimmers of hope as they did not get thrashed by teams ranked much higher than them.
  They beat India (ninth) and Canada (15th) 3-2 and 4-1 respectively, and lost narrowly against Australia (number one) 3-2, champions New Zealand (seventh) 4-2 and drew 4-4 with Canada before losing out 3-1 in the fifth-sixth penalty shoot-out.
  "Considering the close margins at the Azlan Shah Cup, our preparations for the WL Semi-finals need to focus on our defense and midfield, and so the friendly matches against Belgium and Germany will be very crucial for our aim to qualify for the Olympics," said Nur Azmi.
  For the record, the last time Malaysia played Belgium was at the World Cup and and score was an unflattering 6-2.
  Malaysia arein Group B of the World League Semi-finals in Antwerp from June 20-July 5. The other rivals are hosts Belgium, Great Britain, Ireland and China.
  In Group A are Australia, India, Pakistan, Poland and France.
  With today marking 64 days more to the WL Semi-finals, the national team will be back in training after finishing last in Ipoh.
  "We also plan to be in Belgium at least two weeks ahead of the Olympic Qualifier, and there could be more matches then. But this tour but me taken seriously as it could be our final chance to play with world class teams in a friendly, before we feel the might of their brunt in the qualifier. The defenders need to learn how to minimise their mistakes, as world class teams don't give you too many chances to score, and they are also clinical when attacking," said Nur Azmi.
  On his personal feeling: "I believe we have the players who can take us into the Olympics after missing it for 16 years, so they should not be disheartened with the Azlan Shah Cup scores, and learn from their mistakes instead."
Posted by at

Monday, April 13, 2015

... take note Beng Hai

PIC: TAI BENG HAI

MALAYSIA were a disappointing lot in the Azlan Shah Cup, as they slid all the way to the bottom, even lower than Canada just eight weeks before the Olympic Qualifier in Belgium.
  After beating Canada 4-1, 15th in the world, the No 12 Malaysia collapsed in the fifth-sixth classification when they were held to a 4-4 draw, and then beaten 3-1 in the shoot-out.
  Sixty minutes of play, with four quarters, is here to stay and it looks like coach Tai Beng Hai's team have yet to master the art of plying consistent hockey in all four quarters, which have two, 10 and then another two minutes break.
  Malaysia blew hot-and-cold in every quarter, and the record will show that Beng Hai's men went down 0-2 to New Zealand but fought gallantly to level at 2-2, before collapsing 4-2.
  And against world champions Australia, after a gallant fight, Malaysia lost 3-2 in a match which they dominated.
  India were shocked 3-2, but the national players gave South Korea 2-0 lead, then fought back to level the score only to lose 3-2.
  Azlan Shah Cup was the last avenue for Beng Hai to test his charges, and they failed the consistency test, something they can't afford in the  World League Semi-finals in Antwerp, Belgium, on June 20 to July 5.
     Australia lost back-to-back matches against India and then New Zealand, and were denied a whopping ninth title, but coach Graham Reid's parting words are worth their weight in gold -- especially for Malaysia.
  "It's a marathon, not a sprint (towards the Belgium qualifier and then Rio de Janeiro) but we will need to take all those Azlan Shah Cup lessons on board. We just need to work harder and harder in Perth," said Reid. 
  He also praised the Kiwi goalkeeper: "We hit and hit him hard, but he stopped us many times. That's standard New Zealand, their goalkeeper (Devon Manchester) played really well."
  The Kookaburras will host New Zealand, Pakistan and South Korea in early May, in their final warm-up before heading for Antwerp where they are the favourites to qualify for the Olympics.
  Malaysia must learn from the Australian defeat, it was because of sturdy goalkeeping from Manchester, and Malaysia had S. Kumar and we almost pulled off a point against the Kookas, but a bungling forward-like shattered that dream... take note Beng Hai.
  Malaysia are involved in that same marathon with Australia, and still have time to work harder and harder in Kuala Lumpur... jot that down Beng Hai.
  In Belgium, three tickets will be made available to the 2016 Olympics, but with double qualification, even the fifth placed team has a chance to play in Brazil... so you need to motivate the team to fight till the last match Beng Hai.
  Playing in Group B, Malaysia will face Belgium, Great Britain, Ireland and China. In Group A are Australia, India, Pakistan, Poland and France.
  Azlan Shah bronze medallists India have qualified for the Olympics by winning the Asian Games gold, while Malaysia have a daunting task of beating China and Ireland in their group to avoid the wooden spoonist title in Belgium which in all probability pair them against Australia in the cross-over quarter-finals.
  And judging by current form, Belgium and Great Britain are out of Beng Hai and his men's league -- unless they take Reid's advise and re-start their marathon by working harder and harder in Kuala Lumpur.
  Also, there is no more room for players who want to go on a long vacation, skipping training, using studies as excuse, using money as excuse, or using politics as an issue to stay away from camp.
  The marathon has started, and Malaysia need to keep pace with Australia, and be ready to sprint past India and Pakistan in Group A of the World League Semi-finals if they want to be known as Olympians.
  ... the last entry into Beng Hai's Azlan Shah Cup diary should be: "In future, I will face the Press win, lose or draw. And not send manager Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad to face the media bricks..."
  (Note: Beng Hai attended all other post match Press Conferences, but left the Azlan Shah Stadium in a huff after losing the fifth spot to Canada).
Posted by at

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Azlan Shah Cup: From silver to wood..

SILVER medallists Malaysia ended as wooden spoonist when they were beaten 3-1 By Canada in a penalty shoot-out in the 24th Edition of the Azlan Shah Cup yesterday.
  There was not much of change in attitude from the pool matches, as they kept letting in easy goals after taking hard-fought leads and the match ended 4-4 and had to be decided by shoot-out. And from back-to-back silver medals in 2014 and 2015, Malaysia ended last.
  In the shoot-out, Firhan Ashaari, Haziq Samsul and Nabil Fiqri missed their attempts, with the only goal coming from Faizal Saari.
  For the record, the last time Malaysia finished last was in 2011, when seven teams competed.
  Malaysian coach Tai Beng Hai did not turn up for the Press Conference, and manager Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad sat on the hot seat.
  "Even though it is disheartening to finish last, I believe its a blessing because after a high in Singapore, we were brought down to earth weeks before the Olympic qualifier in Belgium," said Nur Azmi.
  Malaysia were champions in the World League Round Two in Singapore, by whitewashing teams like Mexico and Singapore.
  "We need a hard re-look at the boys, and rectify fast our weaknesses especially in defense. If we can'e even beat Canada (ranked 14) we are going to be in trouble if we go to Belgium with this same attitude," Nur Azmi.
  The Belgium Olympic Qualifier is on June 20 to July 5, where Malaysia will have to beat the likes of Belgium, Great Britain, Ireland and China in Group B. And in the quarter-finals, they are likey to face India, Pakistan or even Australia.
  Yesterday, Malaysia played under pouring rain, but still, the stadium was half-filled when the match started at 3.40pm.
  Razie Rahim ignited the fire with a second minute penalty corner, but Canada equalised via Gabriel Ho-Garcia off a field attempt in the 16th minute.
  But three minutes later, Faizal Saari perfected a penalty corner to give Malaysia the lead again, and Firhan Ashaari made it 3-1 in the 23rd minute when he slotted home a field goal.
  It continued raining, but a determined Canada kept pushing forward and were rewarded when Ho-Garcia slotted home his second and the score stood at 3-2 at half-time.
  And three minutes into the half-time, 33rd minute, Ho-Garcia scored another field goal for a hat-trick and Malaysia looked like they might lose it.
  Faizal then got his brace in the 37th minute, and Malaysia were back in command at 4-3. But Matthew Sarmento again gave Canada a life-line in the 49th with a field attempt to make it 4-4.
  Malaysia had beaten Canada 4-1 in their last pool match on Saturday: 
  RESULTS: Final -- Australia 2 New Zealand 2 (NZ win shoot-out 3-1); Third-Fourth: India 2 South Korea 2 (India win shoot-out 4-1); Fifth-Sixth: Malaysia 4 Canada 4 (Canada win shoot-out 3-1).
Posted by at

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Azlan Shah Cup: First all-Oceania final

THE Azlan Shah Cup will be an all-Oceania final or the first time in 24 Editions when world champions Australia meet their neighbours New Zealand in Ipoh today.
  New Zealand will be playing in only their second final today, and their only gold medal was in 2012. Australia have a better pedigree in the Azlan Shah Cup as they will be gunning for their ninth title.
  The Kiwis held South Korea to a 3-3 draw in a thriller yesterday, and qualified with three wins, one draw and one defeat.
  And Malaysia knew they were doomed to play in the fifth-sixth bracket after the first match between India and Australia produced an upset. India beat Australia 4-2 with a hat-trick from Chandanda Thimmaiah (23rd, 32nd, 69th) while V. Raghunath (first) scored the other.
  Australia's goals were scored by Daniel Beale (14th) and Matt Gohdes (53rd).
  The win will see India play South Korea for the bronze medal.
  "We treated this match like a semi-final, ahead of tomorrow's (Sunday) final but things did not go as planned. But you're bound to have a bad match in any tournament, and I'm glad it was today and not in the final," said Australian coach Graham Reid.
  India coach Paul van Ass was elated: "Like I said we played well in every match, except for Malaysia, but the results were not there because we were not sharp in the semi-circle. And this result (Australia win) shows that we are capable to take on the best."
   Kookaburras captain Mark Knowles reached a milestone of 250 caps yesterday. He's a three-time Olympian with one gold and two bronze medals under his belt. He also helped Australia win two World Cups, and was the 2014 International Player of the Year.
  New Zealand coach Colin Batch predicted a tough final: "Australia lost to India but that does not mean a thing to our game against them in the final. We know its going to be tough, but we have our plans, and we are ready to face them."
  As for Malaysia, their match against Canada yesterday was purely academic as both sides will meet again today for the fifth-sixth classification. Malaysia beat Canada 4-1 yesterday with goals from Haziq Samsul (fifth, 43rd), Nabil Fiqri (sixth) and Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin (38th).
  The Canada consolation was scored by Matthew Sarmento (40th).
   

 STANDINGS

                    P  W   D L  F  A  Pts
AUSTRALIA          5  4   0 1  20 9   12
N ZEALAND          5  3   1 1  15 9   10
S KOREA            5  2   2 1  13 13  8
INDIA              5  2   1 2  14 12  7
MALAYSIA           5  2   0 3  13 13  6
CANADA             5  0   0 5  5  24  0

   RESULTS: Australia 2 India 4, South Korea 3 New Zealand 3, Malaysia 4 Canada 1.
  SUNDAY: Final -- Australia v New Zealand (8.45pm); Third-Fourth: India v South Korea (6.10pm); Fifth-Sixth: Malaysia v Canada (3.40pm).
Posted by at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)