India v Argentina final

Malaysia's Chua Boon Huat epitomises how close the tournament was for Malaysia. At one stage, the story was for Malaysia to beat Belgium and India for a place in the final, but they blew both the matches.17/05/08

INDIA edged Malaysia 2-1 and will meet Argentina in the final of the 17th Azlan Shah Cup tomorrow (18/05/08).
Malaysia will not be involved in the play-offs, as their pathetic display in Ipoh has cemented their faith at the bottom of the seven-team pool.
Argentina, meanwhile, even though had qualified for the final much earlier, played to a 2-2 draw against Canada as a warm-up to the final today.
The Argentines made their debut in in the Azlan Shah Cup in 2006 where they ended seventh in an eight-pool tour nament.
And last year, the Argentines were fifth in a also an eight- team pool.
India are three-time Azlan Shah Cup champions, won in 1985, 1991 and 1995, but it has been a long 13 years since they have lifted the Trophy.
The form-book favours the Argentines, who have yet to be beaten in Ipoh, while India came back into the picture after a disastrous start, which included a 5-1 drubbing in the hands of the South Americans.
Yesterday, India scored off a Shivendra Singh field goal and a Sandeep Singh penalty stroke in the first half, while Malaysia got their consolation after the final hooter, when Amin Rahim scored from a penalty corner.
RESULTS: Argentina 2 Canada 2, India 2 Malaysia 1, New Zealand 3 Belgium 1.
TODAY: Final: India v Argentina (8pm): Third-Fourth: Pakistan v New Zealand (5.30pm); Fifth-Sixth: Belgium v Canada (3pm).
P W D L F A Pts

ARGENTINA 6 4 2 0 19 8 14

INDIA 6 4 0 2 17 16 12

PAKISTAN 6 3 1 2 18 16 10

NEW ZEALAND 6 3 0 3 14 14 9

BELGIUM 6 2 0 4 15 17 6

CANADA 6 1 2 3 7 12 5

MALAYSIA 6 1 1 4 9 16 4

Argentina 2 Canada 2

HALF-TIME: Argentina 0 Canada 0. Argentina four penalty corners and one penalty stroke, which Juan Ignacio Gilardi took but Canada goalkeeper Mike Mahood save.
Canada, defending, only one penalty corner.

SECOND-HALF: Argentina use second goalkeeper Juan Tomas Espinosa first time in tournament, Juan Martin Lopez receive yellow card.
Argentina take lead in 48th minute, off a solo run and slam from Facundo Callioni and then make it 2-0 in the 60th minute when Ezequiel Martin Sosa scores a field goal.
Canada narrow gap with Sukhwinder Singh penalty corner rebound goal in the 61st minute.
Ravi Kahlon finds the equaliser for Canada in the 69th minute, after receiving a long ball from Sukhwinder.

MALAYSIA ROBBED! Hockey Gains

BEAUTIES with the Beast outside the Green Stadium in Japan where Malaysia were robbed of an entry into the final of the Olympic Qualifiers, because the International Hockey Federation (FIH) were slow to adapt to changes in Video Umpiring, which had taken place in cricket and Tennis much earlier.

MALAYSIA’S protest during the Japan Olympic Qualifiers has saved future tournaments from turning into a sham.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has finally amended its video umpiring rules to include a clause which allows: Whether a breach of the rules has been observed within the attacking circle in the play leading to the award ing or disallowing of a goal. It is then for the umpire to take any breach into account in reaching his decision.

Earlier, video umpiring could only judge whether the ball crossed the goal line, whether the ball was legally played or touched inside the circle by the stick of an attacker before the ball crossed the goal line and whether the ball travelled outside the circle before it entered the goal during the taking of a penalty corner.
Malaysia were leading Japan 3-2 in the Qualifiers, and only a minute separating them from playing Germany in the final, when an equaliser was scored after a Japanese player stopped the ball with his thigh.
But then, there was no provision in video umpiring to help Malaysia’s cause. And the protest was thrown out, and Malaysia found themselves out in the cold.
The new rule, called ‘minor amendments’ by the FIH, will be used in the: Men’s and women’s Champions Trophies 2008, but a formal proposal may be put to the Executive Board following the completion of both of these events if the trial is deemed a success.
The FIH also said: These adjustments have been brought in to counteract problems that have occurred at previous tournaments.

To late for Malaysia, but not for hockey.

Pathetic Malaysia

MALAYSIAN players and officials after winning a bronze medal at the Japan Olympic Qualifiers.


16/05/08

FROM a potential finalist, Malaysia are now embarrassingly close to not even playing in the 17th Azlan Shah Cup playoff in Ipoh on Sunday.
The same script in the Japan Olympics Qualifiers last month, was shown as a re-run in Ipoh, and the seismic cracks which caused both disasters in Japan and also in Ipoh are in defense, midfield and attack. Malaysia meet India today, and are only good to play a spoilers role.
India need a win to play in the final against Argentina, while Malaysia to avoid finishing last and not even playing in the play-off of this seven-team tournament.
A defeat today would turn Malaysia into mere spectators at their own back-yard.
DEFENSE: As shaky as ever, and have let in 14 goals, some of which can be awarded as the silliest of this edition. Megat Azrafiq is overweight and easy to beat, while Madzli Ikmar and Jiwa Mohan have had a better tournament. But goalkeeper S. Kumar has been blowing hot and cold.

MIDFIELD: Non-existent, because Malaysian have been playing more overhead balls which bypasses this section, than mounting well planned attacks from midfield.

FORWARDS: Had more than their fair share of circle penetrations, but Malaysia have only scored eight goals, of which, four were scored by defender Amin Rahim during penalty corners. Two by midfielders Kelvinder Singh and Azlan Misron, and two strikers by S. Selvaraju and Chua Boon Huat.

The only thing going for Malaysia is their fitness, and it is not enough to carry a team in any high-ranking tournament.

MAY 17: Argentina v Canada (4pm), India v Malaysia (6pm), New Zealand v Belgium (8pm).
P W D L F A Pts

ARGENTINA 5 4 1 0 17 6 13

PAKISTAN 6 3 1 2 18 16 10

INDIA 5 3 0 2 15 15 9

BELGIUM 5 2 0 3 14 14 6

NEW ZEALAND 5 2 0 3 11 13 6

CANADA 5 1 1 3 5 10 4

MALAYSIA 5 1 1 3 8 14 4
ends/

Malaysia heading for rock-bottom

15/05/08
RESULTS: India 2 Pakistan 1, New Zealand 3 Canada 0, Belgium 4 Malaysia 2.
MALAYSIA lost 4-2 to Belgium yesterday, and are now firmly rooted at the bottom of the 17th Azlan Shah Cup standings.
And if they remain there after their last pool match against India tomorrow, there will be no need for a play-off, as the lowest is among the fifth and sixth only.
Malaysia were forced to defend from the whistle, as Belgium inserted great pressure and goalkeeper S. Kumar had to bring out a few heroic saves.
But the inevitable finally happened in the 20th minute, when Charles Vandeweghe gave his team the lead with a rebound goal.
Malaysia went on the offensive after that, and played some great hockey before sounding the board for the equaliser in the 24th minute.
Amin Rahim’s low flick gave a cracking sound as it crashed onto the board, and Malaysia went into the breather on equal terms with Belgium.
But the second half turned into a nightmare, as Malaysia kept on missing sitters while Vandeweghe scored his brace in the 43rd.
Malaysia equalised at 2-2 in the 46th minute when Amin Rahim scored again, but the Belgians walked away with full points with strikes from Jerome Dekeyser (52nd) and Thomas Briels (69th).
Meanwhile, India put up a brave front to beat Pakistan 2-1 and open the door to the final a little wider. India, with nine points, now need to beat Malaysia to play in the final.
Sandeep Singh (seventh) and Diwakar Ram (26th), scored for India in the first half off penalty corners, while Muhammad Saqlain (59th) scored from the penalty spot for Pakistan in the second half.
New Zealand beat Canada 3-0 with goals from David Kosoof 20th, Dean Couzins 48th and Nicholas Wilson 63rd.
TODAY: Rest Day.
MAY 17: Argentina v Canada (4pm), India v Malaysia (6pm), New Zealand v Belgium (8pm).
P W D L F A Pts
ARGENTINA 5 4 1 0 17 6 13
PAKISTAN 6 3 1 2 18 16 10
INDIA 5 3 0 2 15 15 9
BELGIUM 5 2 0 3 14 14 6
NEW ZEALAND 5 2 0 3 11 13 6
CANADA 5 1 1 3 5 10 4
MALAYSIA 5 1 1 3 8 14 4