IT was a tale of missed chances for the National Juniors in the two Sultan of Johor Cup matches they have played to date and they can't afford any more bungles in their next three ties.
Today, Malaysia will start their Asian campaign against South Korea at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru, with matches against Pakistan and India to follow.
National Juniors coach K. Dharmaraj has said that his charges can't afford to lose to Asian teams as they will be meeting them again in the Junior Asia Cup in Malacca next year, which also doubles up as a Junior World Cup Qualifier.
However, Dharmaraj's players have shown they are masters of the "near misses" thus far in matches against Australia (2-1) and New Zealand (1-1).
"We have had our fair share of chances and misses, but Australia are the favourites here and a 2-1 score against them is not too bad actually," said team manager Mirnawan Nawawi.
And now, according to Mirnawan, the target is to win the remaining three matches and play in the final.
"Playing in the final is still within our reach but we need to win against Korea, India and Pakistan to achieve it," said Minawan.
"It would also be a good boost to beat the three teams ahead of the Junior Asia Cup where we will meet them again for a shot at the Junior World Cup."
Korea are no pushovers, as they came back from trailing India by four goals to win 6-4, and then beat Pakistan 2-1 for maximum points.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Malaysia pull off a Kiwi draw
THE National team pulled off a 1-1 draw against New Zealand in the Sultan of Johor Cup at the Taman Daya Stadium yesterday.
The hosts, beaten 2-1 by Australia on Saturday, will next meet a super-fit South Korea tomorrow.
Malaysia started at the receiving end, when Russel Kane gave New Zealand an early lead in the ninth minute off a penalty corner attempt and the score stood until the breather.
The only laudable miss from Malaysia was in the 20th minute, when Syamim Yusof blew a sitter, and then the penalty corner battery failed to score a corner won 40 seconds from half-time.
After the re-start, Malaysia kept on earning penalty corners, a total of six, but the stubborn Kiwi defense held on tightly until the 62nd minute.
That was when a pass from Fitri Saari was deflected home by Amir farid, who was lurking at the far post, to draw level and the score stool until the final hooter.
Pakistan and India again suffered defeats when they lost 2-1 and 3-2 to South Korea and Australia respectively.
It was a better show from India compared to their first match where they lost 6-4 to Korea despite a 4-0 lead after 35 minutes.
"It was a great display of attacking hockey from both teams and we were a shade lucky that they ran out of time in the end. I am impressed with the play of our opponents and really some of them could be in their senior side real soon," said Australian coach Paul Gaudoin.
"But we need to improve on our basics as there were a lot of basic mistakes which allowed them possession of the ball. Overall it was a good win though we can and ought to play much better."
Australia took only eight minutes to take the lead when Daniel Beale scored. India replied in the 24th minute after some fine work on the right by Gurinder Singh who set up Ramandeep Singh for an easy tap in.
But Australia regained the lead in the 29th minute when Josh Walters punished the Indian defence for a sloppy show, and made it 3-1 in the 50th minute off a penalty corner rebound from Cameron Joyce.
Ramandeep Singh scored India's second in the 66th minute, but time ran out on them to pull off an equaliser.
In another match, South Korea had to bring out their best to beat Pakistan 2-1. The Korean goals were scored by their skipper Yang Ji Hun (20th) and Lee Jung Jun (24th). The Pakistan goal was scored by Muhammad Adnan in the 53rd minute.
RESULTS: South Korea 2 Pakistan 1, Australia 3 India 2, Malaysia 1 New Zealand 1.
TUESDAY: New Zealand v Australia (4pm), Malaysia v South Korea (6pm), Pakistan v India (8pm).
WEDNESDAY: South Korea v Australia (4pm), India v New Zealand (6pm), Pakistan v Malaysia (8pm).
FRIDAY: Australia v Pakistan (4pm), New Zealand v South Korea (6pm), India v Malaysia (8pm).
P W D L F A Pts
S KOREA 2 2 0 0 8 5 6
AUSTRALIA 2 2 0 0 5 3 6
N ZEALAND 2 1 1 0 2 1 4
MALAYSIA 2 0 1 1 2 3 1
PAKISTAN 2 0 0 2 1 3 0
INDIA 2 0 0 2 6 9 0
The hosts, beaten 2-1 by Australia on Saturday, will next meet a super-fit South Korea tomorrow.
Malaysia started at the receiving end, when Russel Kane gave New Zealand an early lead in the ninth minute off a penalty corner attempt and the score stood until the breather.
The only laudable miss from Malaysia was in the 20th minute, when Syamim Yusof blew a sitter, and then the penalty corner battery failed to score a corner won 40 seconds from half-time.
After the re-start, Malaysia kept on earning penalty corners, a total of six, but the stubborn Kiwi defense held on tightly until the 62nd minute.
That was when a pass from Fitri Saari was deflected home by Amir farid, who was lurking at the far post, to draw level and the score stool until the final hooter.
Pakistan and India again suffered defeats when they lost 2-1 and 3-2 to South Korea and Australia respectively.
It was a better show from India compared to their first match where they lost 6-4 to Korea despite a 4-0 lead after 35 minutes.
"It was a great display of attacking hockey from both teams and we were a shade lucky that they ran out of time in the end. I am impressed with the play of our opponents and really some of them could be in their senior side real soon," said Australian coach Paul Gaudoin.
"But we need to improve on our basics as there were a lot of basic mistakes which allowed them possession of the ball. Overall it was a good win though we can and ought to play much better."
Australia took only eight minutes to take the lead when Daniel Beale scored. India replied in the 24th minute after some fine work on the right by Gurinder Singh who set up Ramandeep Singh for an easy tap in.
But Australia regained the lead in the 29th minute when Josh Walters punished the Indian defence for a sloppy show, and made it 3-1 in the 50th minute off a penalty corner rebound from Cameron Joyce.
Ramandeep Singh scored India's second in the 66th minute, but time ran out on them to pull off an equaliser.
In another match, South Korea had to bring out their best to beat Pakistan 2-1. The Korean goals were scored by their skipper Yang Ji Hun (20th) and Lee Jung Jun (24th). The Pakistan goal was scored by Muhammad Adnan in the 53rd minute.
RESULTS: South Korea 2 Pakistan 1, Australia 3 India 2, Malaysia 1 New Zealand 1.
TUESDAY: New Zealand v Australia (4pm), Malaysia v South Korea (6pm), Pakistan v India (8pm).
WEDNESDAY: South Korea v Australia (4pm), India v New Zealand (6pm), Pakistan v Malaysia (8pm).
FRIDAY: Australia v Pakistan (4pm), New Zealand v South Korea (6pm), India v Malaysia (8pm).
P W D L F A Pts
S KOREA 2 2 0 0 8 5 6
AUSTRALIA 2 2 0 0 5 3 6
N ZEALAND 2 1 1 0 2 1 4
MALAYSIA 2 0 1 1 2 3 1
PAKISTAN 2 0 0 2 1 3 0
INDIA 2 0 0 2 6 9 0
Malaysia blow golden chance
MALAYSIA paid a heavy price for not fielding their two top strikers when they were edged 2-1 by Australia in the inaugural Sultan of Johor Cup at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru last night.
The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) had decided to rest Faisal Saari and Firhan Ashaari from the Johor tournament, as they are being primed for the Champions Challenge I by national coach Tai Beng Hai, and the juniors team were toothless in their opening match in Johor.
Australia were far from imnpressive, but still won 2-1 -- both were goals gifted on a platter by the Malaysian defenders.
Malaysia should have been 3-0 up by the 10th minute, but two silly clearances at the back resulted in Australia taking a 1-0 lead into the dressing room, instead.
After three early good looks at the Australian goalmouth, with the forwards missing a beat in the final touch, Shazrul Imran gave away a penalty corner which was turned into a penalty stroke by the Aussies.
And William Shaw made sure with a flick from the spot in the 22nd minute and the national team went back to the drawing board for 10 minutes to plot the second half.
However, another silly mistake from Malaysian skipper Noor Faeez Ibrahim in the 57th minute, sealed their fate in the opening clash.
The captain's poor clearance was intercepted with ease, and this time Josh Walters scored the gift goal with ease.
Malaysia won three consecutive penalty corners after the 70th minute hooter blew, and finally Noor Faeez sounded the board.
In the other matches, Pakistan and India suffered contrasting defeats, against New Zealand and South Korea respectively.
And while Pakistan fell to an early goal and lost 1-0 to the Kiwis, India held a 4-0 lead into the half-time before crumbling to a 6-4 defeat.
It was a remarkable comeback by the Koreans, while India were left wondering what hit them in the second half where they failed to find a single goal despite creating many chances.
"The boys were overconfident in the second half and paid the price for it. While Korea defended poorly early in the game, we did the same in the second half and once Korea were on level terms, my players body language said it all -- they just gave up," said Indian coach Mukesh Kumar.
"It was only in the last ten minutes that we tried coming back into the match but it was a little too late. It was a good lesson for the boys though as one should never take the outcome of a match as granted though leading by four goals."
India took a 4-0 lead off Kumar Mylaram (fourth), Malek Singh (16th, 29th), Talwinder Singh (31st).
But that was asa far as they got, as Korea hit a sixer in the second half off Yang Ji Hun (39th, 48th, 56th, 59th), Yoon Dong Hyeon (41st),Yoon Dong Hyeon (41st).
The New Zealand winner was scored by skipper Ross Nicholas in the seventh minute off a penalty stroke and Pakistan never recovered after that early goal.
RSULTS: South Korea 6 India 4, New Zealand 1 Pakistan 0, Australia 2 Malaysia 0.
SUNDAY: South Korea v Pakistan (4pm), Australia v India (6pm), Malaysia v New Zealand (8pm).
TUESDAY: New Zealand v Australia (4pm), Malaysia v South Korea (6pm), Pakistan v India (8pm).
WEDNESDAY: South Korea v Australia (4pm), India v New Zealand (6pm), Pakistan v Malaysia (8pm).
FRIDAY: Australia v Pakistan (4pm), New Zealand v South Korea (6pm), India v Malaysia (8pm).
P W D L F A Pts
S KOREA 1 1 0 0 6 4 3
AUSTRALIA 1 1 0 0 2 1 3
N ZEALAND 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
MALAYSIA 1 0 0 1 1 2 0
PAKISTAN 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
INDIA 1 0 0 1 4 6 0
The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) had decided to rest Faisal Saari and Firhan Ashaari from the Johor tournament, as they are being primed for the Champions Challenge I by national coach Tai Beng Hai, and the juniors team were toothless in their opening match in Johor.
Australia were far from imnpressive, but still won 2-1 -- both were goals gifted on a platter by the Malaysian defenders.
Malaysia should have been 3-0 up by the 10th minute, but two silly clearances at the back resulted in Australia taking a 1-0 lead into the dressing room, instead.
After three early good looks at the Australian goalmouth, with the forwards missing a beat in the final touch, Shazrul Imran gave away a penalty corner which was turned into a penalty stroke by the Aussies.
And William Shaw made sure with a flick from the spot in the 22nd minute and the national team went back to the drawing board for 10 minutes to plot the second half.
However, another silly mistake from Malaysian skipper Noor Faeez Ibrahim in the 57th minute, sealed their fate in the opening clash.
The captain's poor clearance was intercepted with ease, and this time Josh Walters scored the gift goal with ease.
Malaysia won three consecutive penalty corners after the 70th minute hooter blew, and finally Noor Faeez sounded the board.
In the other matches, Pakistan and India suffered contrasting defeats, against New Zealand and South Korea respectively.
And while Pakistan fell to an early goal and lost 1-0 to the Kiwis, India held a 4-0 lead into the half-time before crumbling to a 6-4 defeat.
It was a remarkable comeback by the Koreans, while India were left wondering what hit them in the second half where they failed to find a single goal despite creating many chances.
"The boys were overconfident in the second half and paid the price for it. While Korea defended poorly early in the game, we did the same in the second half and once Korea were on level terms, my players body language said it all -- they just gave up," said Indian coach Mukesh Kumar.
"It was only in the last ten minutes that we tried coming back into the match but it was a little too late. It was a good lesson for the boys though as one should never take the outcome of a match as granted though leading by four goals."
India took a 4-0 lead off Kumar Mylaram (fourth), Malek Singh (16th, 29th), Talwinder Singh (31st).
But that was asa far as they got, as Korea hit a sixer in the second half off Yang Ji Hun (39th, 48th, 56th, 59th), Yoon Dong Hyeon (41st),Yoon Dong Hyeon (41st).
The New Zealand winner was scored by skipper Ross Nicholas in the seventh minute off a penalty stroke and Pakistan never recovered after that early goal.
RSULTS: South Korea 6 India 4, New Zealand 1 Pakistan 0, Australia 2 Malaysia 0.
SUNDAY: South Korea v Pakistan (4pm), Australia v India (6pm), Malaysia v New Zealand (8pm).
TUESDAY: New Zealand v Australia (4pm), Malaysia v South Korea (6pm), Pakistan v India (8pm).
WEDNESDAY: South Korea v Australia (4pm), India v New Zealand (6pm), Pakistan v Malaysia (8pm).
FRIDAY: Australia v Pakistan (4pm), New Zealand v South Korea (6pm), India v Malaysia (8pm).
P W D L F A Pts
S KOREA 1 1 0 0 6 4 3
AUSTRALIA 1 1 0 0 2 1 3
N ZEALAND 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
MALAYSIA 1 0 0 1 1 2 0
PAKISTAN 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
INDIA 1 0 0 1 4 6 0
Friday, November 4, 2011
Kookaburra Test for Malaysia
PIC: Australian coach Paul Gaudoin.MALAYSIA will open their Sultan of Johor Cup against early favourites Australia at the Taman Daya Stadium today.
And the fact that Project 2013 received a whipping on their Tour of Australia recently should cause for some concerns in the opening match.
In a four-match series in Australia in June, Malaysia received an opening drubbing of 9-1 before closing in to a 2-1 defeat in the second and holding the Aussies to a 5-5 draw in the third.
However, Australia again stamped their mark in the final friendly with a 5-2 win.
Coach Paul Gaudoin said they are looking forward to a winning start in the inaugural tournament which will also feature Pakistan, India, South Korea and New Zealand.
“We look forward to a winning start and I must reiterate that it is going to be tough as Malaysia are a much improved side with some very skilful players, as compared to the four friendlies we played,” said the coach who played in the 1993 Junior World Cup.
Australia are not the same side that played in the friendlies as missing from the line-up are six players, and out of the 18 listed for Johor, only five are eligible to play in the 2013 Junior World Cup.
“It is going to be a wonderful week as far as Australia is concerned and I must congratulate the hosts for coming up for such a tournament that will no double help lift the standard of junior hockey both at Asian and Oceania levels.”
On the Malaysian front. coach K. Dharmaraj is looking for more than just wins in the tournament.
“Frankly speaking, playing in this tournament will show how much we have progressed in our preparations for the Junior Asia Cup that will serve as a Qualifier for the 2013 Junior World Cup,” said Dharmaraj.
“And it is the likes of India, Pakistan and South Korea that we have to get a psychological advantage over before the Asian qualifiers that will be held in Malacca next May. Winning against these teams will give us the boost.
“So let us take it one match at a time starting with Australia in the opening match. The Australians, I must admit, are not the same team as we played in June, but nonetheless their physical attributes and robust style of hockey will no doubt pose problems to my players.”
TODAY: South Korea v India (4pm), New Zealand v Pakistan (6pm), Australia v Malaysia (8pm).
SUNDAY: South Korea v Pakistan (4pm), Australia v India (6pm), Malaysia v New Zealand (8pm).
TUESDAY: New Zealand v Australia (4pm), Malaysia v South Korea (6pm), Pakistan v India (8pm).
WEDNESDAY: South Korea v Australia (4pm), India v New Zealand (6pm), Pakistan v Malaysia (8pm).
FRIDAY: Australia v Pakistan (4pm), New Zealand v South Korea (6pm), India v Malaysia (8pm).
Malaysia to play without top strikers
MALAYSIA will be without two of their key strikers when they take on the world's best junior teams in the inaugural Sultan of Johor Cup starting tomorrow at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru.Faizal Saari, the top scorer in the Malaysia Hockey League with 19 goals, and Firhan Ashaari (pic), will train with the senior squad for the Champions Challenge I while their teammates battle in Johor.
There was a keen tussle for the players with Project 2013 coach K. Dharmaraj of the opinion that they should play in Johor, while senior coach Tai Beng Hai did not want his budding strikers to risk injury and fatigue.
In the end, it was decided that the duo should skip Johor and concentrate on training for South Africa. Their names were missing from the final list released by Dharmaraj yesterday.
The tournament will see Malaysia hard-pressed to achieve their second place target as they have to play India, Pakistan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
However, Malaysia are no longer a weak side as they have been on a string of tours preparing for next year's Junior Asia Cup in Malacca, which is also a Junior World Cup Qualifier.
Dharmaraj's team have been to Australia, New Zealand, England, Germany and Spain. Some of his players played in the Four Nation Invitational in Russia, while those who are under 18, played and won the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Under-18 Tournament in Singapore.
Also, Faiz Helmi and Amir Farid played in the Asian Champions Trophy in Ordos, Inner Mongolia.
"We have done all the necessary groundwork systematically and even though the target is a steep final appearance, my players are game for the challenge," said Dharmaraj.
On Wednesday, Malaysia beat New Zealand 3-1 in a friendly.
THE SQUAD: Hazrul Faiz (GK), Hafizuddin Othman (GK), Noor Faeez Ibrahim (capt), Norhizzat Sumantri, Faiz Helmi, Shazrul Imran, Shazril Irwan, Fitri Saari, Syamim Yusof, Aamir Farid, Fariq Saadon, Ramadhan Rosli, Izad Hakimi, Rashid Baharom, Hafiq Zainol, Zulhairi Hashim, Mohamed Azri, Kavin Khartik; Manager: Mirnawan Nawawi; Coach: K. Dharmaraj; Assistant Coaches: K. Gobinathan, Nor Azlan Bakar.
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