No match for Korean giants

31/05/2002

MALAYSIA ........... 0 S. KOREA ............. 2
AUSTRALIA ........... 4 INDIA ............. 0
MALAYSIA went down 2-0 to South Korea in the Four-Nation at the Pines
Stadium in Adelaide yesterday.
Both the Korean goals were scored in the first half by Kang Keon-wook
(13th minute) and Yeo Woon-kon (16th) and the relatively young Malaysian
side failed to recover in the second half.
But Malaysia did well to keep the scoreline low and it augurs well for
their preparation for the Asian Games in Busan.
Coach Paul Lissek and manager Yahya Atan were not available for comment.
The men in yellow next face India who fielded their Junior World Cup
winning side in the Four-Nation and were crushed by the experienced Kuala
Lumpur World Cup silver medallists Australia 4-0.
Australia scored four goals in the second half to chalk up a convincing
win in their first outing since the KL World Cup earlier in the year.
The Kookaburras outfit was steady in the first half, but was not able to
find the net until six minutes into the second.
After the breather, the Australians lifted the tempo of the match, and
created many scoring opportunities. Matthew Smith missed a penalty stroke
in the 40th minute, but made up for it one minute later by making a pass
across the goalmouth goal to set Michael McCann for goal.
Craig Victory scored the second five minutes later and Jeremy Hiskins
added the third to the tally in the 61st minute.
Robbie Hammond scored a field goal in the final minute of the match to
nail India.
Australia Coach Barry Dancer was happy with the way their first outing
turned out.
"The first half was a good platform for us, but we were too tentative at
times. We were able to step up in the second half, our pressing was better
and the players were confident to take more risks which resulted in some
excellent, sharp goals," he said at the Australian Hockey website
(www.hockey.org.au).
Two players made their international debut for Australia, with forward
Andrew Smith and goalkeeper Steve Lambert taking the field for the first
time in the green and gold.
In the first half Australia's only good chance was when defender Matthew
Wells fired a penetrating pass from the defensive midfield into the
attacking circle for Craig Victory who made a desperate dive, but was
unable to make a connection.
The Indian team looked dangerous on the counter attack in the first
half, with Prabhjot Singh breaking from the midfield with speed, but the
Australian defence remained tight and was able to keep a clean slate.
(END)