From champs to fighting chimps...

DEFENDING champions Malaysia were handed a humiliating 2-0 defeat by Pakistan which might just see them playing in the fifth-sixth bracket of the Sultan of Johor Cup.
  There was total collapse in discipline and also the basics went out the window as Malaysia struggled to find their form.
  Malaysia were guilty of trying too hard, and in the process, making too many simple mistakes which Pakistan took full advantage to make lightning counters.
  The 5,000-odd crowd were elated when Malaysia won their first penalty corner in the ninth minute only to see skipper Noor Faeez Ibrahim balloon it over the top.
  Pakistan waited patiently in numbers at their own half and in the 20th minute, when Malaysia were in full attack, an overhead flick was sent to an unmarked Dilber Muhammad.
  And Dilber raced alone and beat goalkeeper Hafizuddin Otham for the lead.
  Rashid Baharom had the best chance in the 25th minute to equalise for Malaysia, but even the crowd was amazed on how he hit it wide instead of between the posts for Pakistan to enter the dressing room with a slim lead.
  For the record, Malaysia had beaten Pakistan 2-1 in the last Sultan of Johor Cup, and then 2-1 again in the final of the Junior Asia Cup in Malacca.
  But this time, Pakistan were well prepared for Malaysia as four minutes into the second half, another overhead counter found Dilber who set up the ball for Irfan Muhammad to score their second goal.
   The misery continued in the 44th minute when Syamim Yusof was green carded folowwed by a yellow card to Dedy Aryadi.
   And in the 50th minute there was almost a free-for-all when Suleman Muhammad hit Imran Nazli but the situation was brought under control and Suleman was flashed the yellow.
  After that, there were more skirmishes than hockey played, and it placed the Malaysian side under a bad spotlight as they trooped out in disgrace.
  RESULTS: Australia 0 Germany 2, New Zealand 1 India 3, Malaysia 2 Pakistan 0.
   FRIDAY: REST DAY.
   SATURDAY: Germany v Pakistan (4pm), India v Malaysia (6pm), New Zealand v Australia (8pm).

STANDINGS

              P  W  D  L  F  A Pts
INDIA         4  3  1  0  8  2  10
GERMANY       4  2  0  2  10 7  6
AUSTRALIA     4  2  0  2  8  7  6
PAKISTAN      4  1  2  1  6  8  5
N ZEALAND     4  1  1  2  10 13 4
MALAYSIA      4  1  0  3  7  12 3

India in the final...

INDIA qualified for the Sultan Johor Cup final when they beat New Zealand 3-1 at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru yesterday.
 The win gave them 10 points with one match in hand against Malaysia on Saturday.
  The India goals were scored by Mandeep Singh (18th), Harjeet Singh (27th) and Manpreet Singh (34th).
  The New Zealand goal was scored by Benedict van Woerkom in the 47th minute.
  "It is very satisfying to be in the final with one match in hand, and even though we are in the final, we will still go all out in the match against Malaysia because this is a junior tournament and all my players are of the same standard and so I will not be resting any player," said India coach Baljeet Singh.
  Meanwhile, world champions Germany placed themselves back in contention for a place in the final after they beat Australia 2-0.
   The win gave them six points, as they had beaten New Zealand 5-1 on Wednesday.
  The Germans bounced back after losing their first two matches against Malaysia (3-2) and India (3-1).
  As for Australia, they will now have to defeat New Zealand in their final match to stand a chance as goal difference could well determine the finalists.
  The German goals were scored by Dieter Linnekogel in the 13th minute and Florian Adrians in the 51st minute.
  German coach Jamilon Muelders said their two defeats to Asian sides is a worrying factor.
  "We lost to Asian sides as we could not adapt to their style of play so this tournament is invaluable in our preparations for the Junior World Cup next year.
  "Both our wins have been against Oceania sides, and now we will have to beat another Asian side (Pakistan) to have a chance of playing in the final," said Muelders.
  RESULTS: Australia 0 Germany 2, New Zealand 1 India 3, Malaysia 0 Pakistan 2.
   FRIDAY: REST DAY.
   SATURDAY: Germany v Pakistan (4pm), India v Malaysia (6pm), New Zealand v Australia (8pm).

Moment of madness...Mas 2 Australia 3

MALAYSIA were punished in a moment of yellow-card madness as they went down 2-3 to Australia in the Sultan of Johor Cup at the Taman Daya Stadium yesterday.
  The score was 2-1 in favour of Malaysia, but they lost the script when skipper Noor Faeez Ibrahim and Irwan Shazli were both yellow carded in the 50th minute, and Australia then scored two goals to take the full points.
  The other madness was when Malaysia just realised yesterday that they could field all 18 players in this tournament, but the hosts did not know this and have only been fielding 16 players for the past three matches.
  "This is ridiculous, as we were not informed that 18 players could be fielded in every match. We lost out as the other teams have all been fielding 18 for every match," lamented Malaysian coach K. Dharmaraj.
  Malaysia did everything right for 35 minutes, but had to come from behind to score the equaliser on the half-time buzzer.
  Australia only had one penalty corner to show, won in the 23rd minute, but Blake Govers made it count with a high flick to the roof.
  The match was played for long periods in the Australian semi-circle, as Malaysia mounted waves of attacks, only to be denied by poor finishing.
  The opportunity was there in the third minute itself, when Syamim Yusof was brought down outside the semi circle and the umpire blew for a penalty corner.
  Skipper Noor Faeez Ibrahim sent in a low flick to the right low corner and Australian custodian Andrew Butturini did well to turn the ball around the upright.
  Malaysia were awarded a second penalty corner in the 19th minute, and Faeez played the ball behind Amir Farid but the set piece went bust.
   But seconds before the hooter blew for rest, Malaysia won another penalty corner, and this time the set-piece worked and Firhan Ashaari slammed home the equaliser.
  And what a restart it was as the entire team attacked from the whistle, and Amir Farid scored from close range in the 37th minute to hand Malaysia the lead at 2-1.
  There was more urgency in the Malaysian game now as they went looking to increase the lead, but lost their skipper Faeez and Irwan Shazli to yellow cards in the 50th minute for arguing with the umpire.
  And Australia made use of the numbers advantage to equalise off Ogilvie Flynn in the very next minute.
  And Malaysia were further punished in the 59th minute when Kane Posselt scored off their only second penalty corner to win the match.
  "When you consistently play with nine and 10 players in such a crucial match, the result is obvious. And it is very cruel for the umpire to send off two of my players, when we are leading 2-1, for such a small fault.
  "We had brought up the matter of different umpires from different countries interpreting the rules differently and confusing the players. But nothing was done to improve this aspect of the game.
  "But that was the unfortunate part. However, we also have to blame ourselves as we won nine penalty corners but fared miserabley, but Australia won only two and scored both," said Malaysian coach K. Dharmaraj.
  Meanwhile, after two consecutive defeats, Germany hammered New Zealand 5-1 with a super first half display.
  The World junior champs took a 4-0 lead at half-time and then opted to slow down the pace for the remaining 35 minutes.
  The German goals were scored by Jonas Gomoll (fifth, 46th), Joshua Delabar (eighth), Niklas Wellen (21st) and Fredrik Hillman (24th).
  The Kiwi consolation was scored by Kane Russel (68th).
  RESULTS: Germany 5 New Zealand 1, Malaysia 2 Australia 3, India 0 Pakistan 0.
  TODAY: Australia v Germany (4pm), New Zealand v India (6pm), Malaysia v Pakistan (8pm).
   FRIDAY: REST DAY.

STANDINGS

              P  W  D  L  F  A Pts

INDIA         3  2  1  0  5  1  7
AUSTRALIA     3  2  0  1  8  5  6
N ZEALAND     3  1  1  1  9  10 4
GERMANY       3  1  0  2  8  7  3
MALAYSIA      3  1  0  2  7  10 3
PAKISTAN      3  0  2  1  4  8  2

Malaysia leading 2-1 against Australia..

Germany 5 New Zealand 1

After two consecutive defeats in the Sultan of Johor Cup, Germany hammered New Zealand 5-1 with a super first half display.
  The World junior champs took a 4-0 lead at half-time and then opted to slow down the pace for the remaining 35 minutes.
  The German goals were scored by Jonas Gomoll (fifth, 46th), Joshua Delabar (eighth), Niklas Wellen (21st) and Fredrik Hillman (24th).
  The Kiwi consolation was scored by Kane Russel (68th).