Poland stun Korea 5-4..

Poland claimed their first win of the tournament with a stunning 5-4 victory over top-ranked Korea in the first game of Day 3 at the Argentina Hockey Champions Challenge 1 in Quilmes.  It was a remarkable result, with the team ranked 19^th in the FIH World Rankings overcoming a side currently sitting 12 places above them at 7^th. The result means that Malaysia are certain to top Pool A irrespective of the result in their later match against Canada.

It took Korea less than two minutes to open the scoring in the early morning fixture, with You Hyo Sik crashing home the opening goal before the Asians enjoyed 20 minutes of virtually unbroken dominance.  Korea controlled possession and created a number of excellent opportunities to extend their lead but were thwarted on numerous occasions by Poland goalkeeper Arkadiusz Matuszak who was in inspired form.

Poland pulled themselves back into the match in the 26^th minute thanks to a clever reverse stick deflection from Szymon Hutek, but Korea re-established their advantage just before half time when Jang Jong Hyun sent a perfectly placed penalty corner drag-flick into the net.

Poland exploded out of the blocks at the start of the second period, netting three goals in five minutes to stun their opponents from Korea.  A 40^th minute own goal was followed two minutes later by a tap-in from brilliant midfielder Dariusz Rachwalski before Miroslaw Jusczak flicked home from a penalty corner in the 45^th minute to give Poland a 4-2 advantage.

Korea fought hard to get back into the match but fell even further behind when Tomasz Gorny added a fifth 12 minutes from the end of the match.  Late goals from Jang Jong Hyun (PC) and Hyun Hye Sung (FG) gave Korea hope of a remarkable comeback, but smart defensive work ensured that Poland held on for a famous and hard earned victory.  

To see the official match sheet, please click here. 

Quotes:

Karol Sniezek (POL Coach)
 “Yes, I’m really happy with this team. Today they played very well. The most important thing is that they are improving every match. As I said the first match, we need these first 3 games to feel confidence and today they gained that. Korea is a great opponent, may be the best one in this tournament.”
“My players are trying to acclimatize in Argentina and with the temperature here. They will reach the proper level, physically and tactically, for the classification matches on Thursday”. 

 Darius Rachwalski (POL Captain and Scorer)
“I felt better today as we played our best match here in this tournament. I think we improved and that is good for our young and inexperienced players.  I can’t remember the last time Poland defeated Korea. It is great for us, for our confidence to face the classification pool.”

 Shin Seok Kyo (KOR Coach)
“Our team has many young players and they made many mistakes. They missed many opportunities to score and made the difference. At this time of the year, the players are tired. We have to think now in the next stage. In the semi-finals, we would prefer to play against Japan.”

Malaysia 4 South Korea 2

THE Malaysian hockey team surprised all and sundry when they beat world No 7 South Korea 4-1 in the Champions Challenge I in Buenos Airs, Argentina, on Sunday night.
    And now Paul Revington’s men, No 13 in the world, are sitting pretty at the top of Group A on six points, after having disposed Poland 4-0 in their first match.
    Their last group match tonight is against Canada, where even a draw will still place them at the top, with a likely crossover meeting against either South Africa or Ireland in the quarter-finals.
     All eight teams advance to the last-eight, but only the champion will make the Champions Trophy grade.
    Yesterday. South Korea took an early lead, but Malaysia powered ahead with four goals, before the Koreans scored their second.
    Razie Rahim made sure in the 18th minute, off a penalty corner, to draw level with South Korea, and two quick goals in the 30th and 31st minutes by Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin saw Malaysia take a 3-1 lead into the breather.
   And Chua Boon Huat made it 4-1 in the 48th minute, and the game was won before Korea’s Jang Jong Hyun scored his brace.
    For the record, all four Korean goals to date in the tournament, including the 2-0 win against Canada, were scored by Jang off penalty corners.
    Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, 26 and with 197 caps said: “I think we played well most of the match, except for the last  20 minutes where we were struggling to maintain our performance.
   “The score looks good, but we are not satisfied of our overall performance. There are many more areas to improve in our last group match against Canada.”
     However, Revington was pleased with his charges show against Korea.\
     “We finished the game pleased with the fact that we won it 4-2. Even though the players are disappointed on how they played for the last 10 minutes of the match, but I am pleased and proud of them, for their overall performance in the two games, as they have shown marked improvement,”
   RESULTS: Group A -- Malaysia 4 South Korea 2, Canada 3 Poland 3.
    Group B: Japan 3 Ireland 0, Argentina 2 South Africa 1.
   TODAY: Group A: South Korea v Poland, Malaysia v Canada (10pm Malaysian time).
   Group B: Ireland v South Africa, Argentina v Japan.

GROUP A
                   P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts

Malaysia      2  2  0  0    8      2      6
Korea           2  1  0  1    4     4      3
Canada         2  0  1  1    3     5     1
Poland          2  0  1  1     3    7     1

GROUP  B

                         P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
Argentina         2  2  0  0     6   4     6
Japan               2  1  1  0      7   4   4
South Africa      2  0  1  1      5   6  1
Ireland              2  0  0  2      3    7 0

KL win sixth straight title

KUALA LUMPUR snatched the MHC-MILO-NSC-MOE Natioanal-Under 14 title for the sixth time when they edged Johor 3-2 in extra time at the Seremban II Stadium yesterday.
  It was an exciting final, befitting the status of the two teams that were the most consistent teams in the tournament.
   Kuala Lumpur have been the champions since its inception in 2007, a feat that is unlikely to be matched by others for years to come.
   Kuala Lumpur took the lead in the 22nd minute through Fallah Hassan Shahrom Jamil.
   But Johor were undeterred and found the equaliser a minute before halftime via Haikal Safaruddin who converted a penalty corner.
   However despite playing better, Johor were unlucky as they failed to make use of the chances and KL went ahead once again in the 60th minute with Kavinash Panicker Thevendran finding space to slot in.
  Just when KL thought they had clinched the title, Johor found the equaliser two minutes from time through Shafiq Hassan to take the match to sudden death extra time.
   And Kuala Lumpur’s Wan Haziq Hisyamuddin scored a gem of a goal five minutes into extra time to give the city side the title.
   “We were fortunate to win as Johor finished the match stronger. I told my players at the end of regulation time to be patient and no to take risks,” said KL coach Madzli Ikmar.
   “And when the opportunity presented itself, Wan Haziq scored with a beauty. Even I could not have finished that well.
   “It is a great moment for us and retaining the trophy is always difficult. I am proud of my players.”
   In the match to determine the bronze, hosts Negri Sembilan edged Perak 3-2 in extra time.

Malaysia beat Poland 4-0

MALAYSIA polished off Poland 4-0 in their opening Champions Challenge match in Buenos Aires, Argentina yesterday.
   And their next opponents are mighty South Korea, ranked No 7, who beat Canada 2-0.
   Malaysia laid their claim for three points early in the match when Razie Rahim converted a penalty corner in the fourth minute of the match.
  Poland then tired to make a comeback and went all out but couldn't challenge the team ranked six spots above them, at No 13 in the world.
  In a rather fiercely challenged and rather physical 70 minutes, Malaysia was the more energetic and better organised side and dominated proceedings.
   And after Razies' early penalty corner, it was Nabil Fiqri's turn  to tuck away a field attempt in the 30th minute.
  And after the restart, Malaysia benefited from an own goal in the 42nd  minute, and Razie score his second and Malaysi's fourth off a 63rd minute penalty corner attempt.
  Malaysian coach Paul Revington said: "We fielded some young players and they played very well today (Saturday). It was also our first opportunity to play as a team, and we knew we will face a tough and competitive side, and so Im very happy with the scoreline."
   Poland coach Karol Sniezek said: “It was tough game. The first match is really important because a good result is necessary to motivate the team. That’s why I congratulate Malaysia on winning the game.
  "They started in a good way (early goal). Our goal is of course to classify for the Champions Trophy, and like everybody knows, the first three games are not so important.
  "Even if you finish your pool in fourth place, you can go on to the quarter-finals. The chances to classify are open, and we want to improve our game match by match."
  As for South Korea, Jang Jong Hyun's brace in penalty coreners was enough to beat Canada 2-0.
  RESULTS: Group A: Malaysia 4 Poland 0, South Korea 2 Canada 0.
 Group B: Argentina 4 Ireland 3, South Africa 4 Japan 4.  
  FIXTURES: Malaysia v South Korea (12midnight, SUNDAY).

Johor set final date with KL..

JOHOR will square off against five-time champions Kuala Lumpur in the final of the MHC-MILO- NSC-MOE National Under-14 tournament at the Seremban II Stadium today.
   Johor beat Perak 3-2 to make their first appearance of the final, while Kuala Lumpur will be playing in their sixth consecutive final.
  The defending champions disposed hosts Negri Sembilan 2-0 in the semis yesterday.
  Johor took a 3-0 lead at halftime through goals from Shafiq Hassan (5th), Haikal Safaruddin (11th) and Amirul Firdaus (30th).
  However, Perak reduced the gap in the 46th minute when Najmi Hayazi scored. And Najmi then made it 2-3 in the 57th minute and Perak were almost back in the match again.
  But time ran out on Perak and Johor celebrated their first final appearance since 2007.
   For hosts Negri, it was heartbreak despite dominating the match and they paid the price for poor finishing.
   “It was a tough game and we took our chances well. The final is a different proposition altogether as we are always mindful of the fact that teams are after our scalp,” said KL coach Madzli Ikmar.
  “We had a narrow escape against Negri and the second goal came at the right time. I dread to think what the consequences would have been had Negri netted the equaliser as they were growing in confidence.”
   It was all Kuala Lumpur in the initial stages of the first half as Negri opted to play a two-man attack and depend on counter attacks.
   But Negri started growing in confidence as the match progressed, enough to force three penalty corners but they failed to capitalise from the chances created.
   They lost their skipper, Mahathir Rathuwan who picked up an injury towards the tailend of the half,  while for Kuala Lumpur, Syafiq Ghani and Ahmad Hariz proved to be a handful for the Negri defenders.
   Kuala Lumpur took the lead in the 41st minute off their fourth penalty corner when Fitri Khairul opted to take a direct hit instead of playing a set piece and the ball sailed past Negri custodian Amirul Hazim who until then had an outstanding match.
  And Fitri put the result beyond doubt in the 64th minute as he weaved past two defenders before unleashing a reverse stick shot from the edge of the semi circle.
  Semi-finals: Kuala Lumpur 2 Negri Sembilan 0, Johor 3 Perak 2.
  TODAY: Final -- Kuala Lumpur v Johor (5pm); Third-Fourth: Negri Sembilan v Perak (3pm).