14/05/08
Pakistan 3 Belgium 5
Malaysia 2 Canada 2
Argentina 2 New Zealand 1
MALAYSIA were held 2-2 by Olympic bound Canada, while Argentina became the first team to qualify for the final of the 17th Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh yesterday.
Argentina beat New Zealand 2-1, while Pakistan lost a golden opportunity to follow suit, when they lost 5-3 to Belgium. Pakistan will now have to beat India today, if they want to play in the final.
Malaysia were at the receiving end for 19 minutes, but held on steadily and stunned the Canadians with a cracker if a goal.
Madzli Ikmar took a shot from deep inside the Malaysian half, and the ball whizzed past a handful of Canadians before reached Chua Boon Huat, who was standing at the Canadian penalty spot.
Chua’s back was towards the goal-mouth, but his reverse stick went past a defender and the Canadian goalkeeper Mike Mahood to give Malaysia the lead.
But in an anticlimax, after Malaysia missed three chances to increase the lead, goalkeeper S. Kumar made a blunder and handed Canada the equaliser.
Kumar rushed out to the top of the semi-circle to clear the ball, but missed and Sukhwinder Singh scored the easiest goal of the tournament and Canada were back on level terms.
But Malaysia went into the dressing room with a one-goal lead, when Amin Rahim’s direct penalty corner attempt sounded the board in the 27th minute.
The hosts lived dangerously in the second half, and allowed Canada a free hand to win penalty corners, but Baljit Singh Charun, the first runner, was too fast for them.
There were plenty of opportunities to increase the lead, but Kelvinder Singh and S. Selvaraju were not sharp enough in the semi-circle.
But Canada nailed the equaliser in the 62nd minute, off their sixth penalty corner, which was scored by Mike Tuffer.
THURSDAY: India v Pakistan (4pm), New Zealand v Canada (6pm), Belgium v Malaysia (8pm).
P W D L F A Pts
ARGENTINA 5 4 1 0 17 6 13
PAKISTAN 5 3 1 1 17 14 10
INDIA 4 2 0 2 13 14 6
CANADA 4 1 1 2 5 7 4
MALAYSIA 4 1 1 2 6 10 4
BELGIUM 4 1 0 3 10 14 3
NEW ZEAL 4 1 0 3 8 13 3
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Pakistan blow it
14/05/08
Pakistan 3 Belgium 5
Argentina 2 New Zealand 1
PAKISTAN lost out on golden chance, when they lost to Belgium. Now they will have to beat India on Thursday if they want to play in the final against Argentina.
Pakistan 3 Belgium 5
Argentina 2 New Zealand 1
PAKISTAN lost out on golden chance, when they lost to Belgium. Now they will have to beat India on Thursday if they want to play in the final against Argentina.
Argentina in Final
Picture on right: Australian's celebrate with the Azlan Shah Cup after beating Malaysia 3-1 in 2007.
14/05/08
Argentina qualified for the 17th Azlan Shah Cup final when they edged New Zealand 2-1.
Argentina only made their Azlan Shah Cup debut in 2006 and finished seventh, and it looks like they have a good chance of lifting the Trophy this year.
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
ARGENTINA 5 4 1 0 17 6 13
Argentina qualified for the 17th Azlan Shah Cup final when they edged New Zealand 2-1.
Argentina only made their Azlan Shah Cup debut in 2006 and finished seventh, and it looks like they have a good chance of lifting the Trophy this year.
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
ARGENTINA 5 4 1 0 17 6 13
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Nine points or bust
13/05/08
AFTER two fantastic displays, the national hockey team were heavy-footed when they were hammered 5-0 by Ar gentina on Monday.
And even though Malaysia received a fair share of penalty corners, Amin Rahim’s flicks were either wide, or easily palmed away by the goalkeeper.
Could the remaining three pool matches turn into a night- mare?
Coach Sarjit Singh feels the worst is over, and is planning for full nine points from now onwards.
"My fear became a reality against Argentina. I had a notion that after the gruelling match against New Zealand (Malaysia won 2-0), the team will be heavy (muscles become tight) and that is exactly what happened.
"This usually happens to any team in one match in a tournament, and now I believe my team will fare much better against Canada, Belgium and India," said Sarjit.
Pakistan were in the same boat with Malaysia on Monday, after the hard-earned 3-3 draw against Argentina on Sunday. They were trailing Canada 1-0, but recovered with two late goals in the 64th and 67th minutes.
On penalty corners, Sarjit said he is giving Amin a chance to prove himself.
"We did try a set-piece during the second penalty corner, but it did not work. So, I gave the rest to Amin to try direct flicks. I need to assess him in this tournament, and see if he will be valuable in our quest to qualify for the 2010 Delhi World Cup from Asia Cup next year," said Sarjit.
MAY 14: New Zealand v Argentina (4pm), Belgium v Pak istan (6pm), Malaysia v Canada (8pm).
AFTER two fantastic displays, the national hockey team were heavy-footed when they were hammered 5-0 by Ar gentina on Monday.
And even though Malaysia received a fair share of penalty corners, Amin Rahim’s flicks were either wide, or easily palmed away by the goalkeeper.
Could the remaining three pool matches turn into a night- mare?
Coach Sarjit Singh feels the worst is over, and is planning for full nine points from now onwards.
"My fear became a reality against Argentina. I had a notion that after the gruelling match against New Zealand (Malaysia won 2-0), the team will be heavy (muscles become tight) and that is exactly what happened.
"This usually happens to any team in one match in a tournament, and now I believe my team will fare much better against Canada, Belgium and India," said Sarjit.
Pakistan were in the same boat with Malaysia on Monday, after the hard-earned 3-3 draw against Argentina on Sunday. They were trailing Canada 1-0, but recovered with two late goals in the 64th and 67th minutes.
On penalty corners, Sarjit said he is giving Amin a chance to prove himself.
"We did try a set-piece during the second penalty corner, but it did not work. So, I gave the rest to Amin to try direct flicks. I need to assess him in this tournament, and see if he will be valuable in our quest to qualify for the 2010 Delhi World Cup from Asia Cup next year," said Sarjit.
MAY 14: New Zealand v Argentina (4pm), Belgium v Pak istan (6pm), Malaysia v Canada (8pm).
Monday, May 12, 2008
Argentina 5 Malaysia 0
13/05/08
RESULTS: Belgium 4 India 6, Canada 1 Pakistan 2, Malaysia 0 Argentina 5.
MALAYSIA were blanked out 5-0 by Argentina in the 17th Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh yesterday.
The defeat has almost shut the final door on Malaysia, while the Argentines and Pakistan remain unbeaten.
Malaysia were a bundle of nerves, and gave away possession too easily, and allowed Argentina to enter the dressing room with a healthy 2-0 lead.
The national players were not sharp enough in the semi-circle, and wasted two penalty corners that came their way in the first half.
Amin Rahim’s first attempt was palmed away by the goalkeeper, while his second flick went wide.
Argentina took the lead in the 19th minute when Facundo Callioni stood at the far post and connected a free-hit which sailed past a sea of Malaysian hockey sticks.
And in the 28th minute, Callioni was again on target, when he deflected a penalty corner attempt from the penalty spot to claim a brace.
With two seconds remaining in the half, Malaysia almost snatched the tonic they needed, but Ismail Abu’s diving attempt to connect a cross was just short of the target.
The second half started on a wrong note, when defender Jiwa Mohan was sent to the sin-bin for a rough tackle in the 41st minute, and coach Sarjit Singh had to bench a few forwards and send in the defenders.
Argentina pushed forward, and won a penalty stroke after Madzli Ikmar used his head-gear to stop the ball in a 46th minute penalty corner.
Juan Gilardi flicked in from the penalty spot, and Malaysia looked like they had no more will-power to stage a come-back even though there was plenty of time left.
Lucas Hernan slotted in the fourth in the 54th minute, and reduced Malaysia to a loose outfit, and it was easy for Thomas Argento to score the fifth in the 68th minute.
Meanwhile, India beat Belgium 6-4, after taking a comfortable 5-1 lead in the first half.
Shivendra Singh (9th, 68th), Sandeep Singh (29th, 35th), Diwakar Ram (22nd), and S.V. Sunil (32nd) scored for India. Belgium got their goals off Thomas Briels (45th, 59th), Alexandre De Sadeleer (24th) and Charles Vandeweghe (61st).
Even in victory, their second in the tournament, India coach A.K. Bansal described it as a ‘horrible win for them’.
"However, we will go for wins in our two remaining matches, (Pakistan and Malaysia) to qualify for the third placing playoff,"
TODAY: Rest Day.
TOMORROW: New Zealand v Argentina (4pm), Belgium v Pakistan (6pm), Malaysia v Canada (8pm).
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
ARGENTINA 4 3 1 0 15 5 10
PAKISTAN 4 3 1 0 14 9 10
INDIA 4 2 0 2 13 14 6
CANADA 3 1 0 2 3 5 3
MALAYSIA 3 1 0 2 4 8 3
NEW ZEALAND 3 1 0 2 7 11 3
BELGIUM 3 0 0 3 5 9 0
ends/
RESULTS: Belgium 4 India 6, Canada 1 Pakistan 2, Malaysia 0 Argentina 5.
MALAYSIA were blanked out 5-0 by Argentina in the 17th Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh yesterday.
The defeat has almost shut the final door on Malaysia, while the Argentines and Pakistan remain unbeaten.
Malaysia were a bundle of nerves, and gave away possession too easily, and allowed Argentina to enter the dressing room with a healthy 2-0 lead.
The national players were not sharp enough in the semi-circle, and wasted two penalty corners that came their way in the first half.
Amin Rahim’s first attempt was palmed away by the goalkeeper, while his second flick went wide.
Argentina took the lead in the 19th minute when Facundo Callioni stood at the far post and connected a free-hit which sailed past a sea of Malaysian hockey sticks.
And in the 28th minute, Callioni was again on target, when he deflected a penalty corner attempt from the penalty spot to claim a brace.
With two seconds remaining in the half, Malaysia almost snatched the tonic they needed, but Ismail Abu’s diving attempt to connect a cross was just short of the target.
The second half started on a wrong note, when defender Jiwa Mohan was sent to the sin-bin for a rough tackle in the 41st minute, and coach Sarjit Singh had to bench a few forwards and send in the defenders.
Argentina pushed forward, and won a penalty stroke after Madzli Ikmar used his head-gear to stop the ball in a 46th minute penalty corner.
Juan Gilardi flicked in from the penalty spot, and Malaysia looked like they had no more will-power to stage a come-back even though there was plenty of time left.
Lucas Hernan slotted in the fourth in the 54th minute, and reduced Malaysia to a loose outfit, and it was easy for Thomas Argento to score the fifth in the 68th minute.
Meanwhile, India beat Belgium 6-4, after taking a comfortable 5-1 lead in the first half.
Shivendra Singh (9th, 68th), Sandeep Singh (29th, 35th), Diwakar Ram (22nd), and S.V. Sunil (32nd) scored for India. Belgium got their goals off Thomas Briels (45th, 59th), Alexandre De Sadeleer (24th) and Charles Vandeweghe (61st).
Even in victory, their second in the tournament, India coach A.K. Bansal described it as a ‘horrible win for them’.
"However, we will go for wins in our two remaining matches, (Pakistan and Malaysia) to qualify for the third placing playoff,"
TODAY: Rest Day.
TOMORROW: New Zealand v Argentina (4pm), Belgium v Pakistan (6pm), Malaysia v Canada (8pm).
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
ARGENTINA 4 3 1 0 15 5 10
PAKISTAN 4 3 1 0 14 9 10
INDIA 4 2 0 2 13 14 6
CANADA 3 1 0 2 3 5 3
MALAYSIA 3 1 0 2 4 8 3
NEW ZEALAND 3 1 0 2 7 11 3
BELGIUM 3 0 0 3 5 9 0
ends/
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