Malaysia hammer Korea 5-1

MALAYSIA continued their super run in the Sultan of Johor Cup when they beat South Korea 5-1 at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru yesterday.
    The win came after an impressive 4-2 start against Argentina, and Malaysia now have full points after two matches going onto the rest day of the tournament.
    Malaysain Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah walked onto the pitch after the win and gave a pep talk to the players.
   "I am impressed with your performance today (yesterday), and there are only minur adjustments that need to be made like more swifter counter attacks, and also don't waste too many opportunities in the semi-circle.
    "You guys are the Asian champions (Junior Asia Cup title holders) and now we must win this tournament to show our strenght going into the Junior World Cup," said Tengku Abdullah.
   Skipper Fitri Saari led by example when he opened accounts with a deft hit in the 13th minute to give Malaysia the lead.
   And cheered on by a full house with drums and constant singing, Malaysia mounted a series of attacks to increase their lead.
   But the second goal never came, as Malaysia kept missing in the semi-circle, and even bungled their only penalty corner in the 25th minute.
  The one-goal lead did not look impressive, as the players trooped into the dressing room to receive instructions from their coach K. Dharmaraj.
   And it was a deream re-start as Malaysian won their second penalty corner a minute into the match, and Shahril Saabah made it 2-0 by scoring his fourth goal of the tournament in the 37th minute.
   Malaysia mounted a series of attacks after that goal, and increased the lead off their seventh penalty corner in the 48th minute.
   This time, it was the turn of Zulhairi Hashim to flick in the third goal, and the Koreans looked like they were heading for a drubbing.
   And the fourth goal came off a lovely combination when Shahril beat two Koreans and made a pass to Syamim Yusof to slam home in the 64th minute.
    The Korean consolation was scored in the 67th minute off a field attempt by Seo in Woo.
    But Rashid Baharom returned the favour in the 69th minute with an attempt from an acute angle and Malaysia beat the Koreans 5-1.
    Pakistan came back from a  goal down to hammer England 6-2 to strengthen their quest of playing in the final. The thumping win came at the back of a 3-0 drubbing of South Korea on Sunday.
   The Pakistan goals were scored by Muhammad Tousiq (11th, 20th), Muhammad Umair (35th, 69th), Ayub Ali (54th) and Muhammad Suleman (62nd).
   Richard Gall (fifth) and Luke Taylor (15th) scored for England.
   In another match, India came back from the dead to edge Argentina 3-2. The match belonged to Argentina until the 60th minute when they were leading 2-1, but team manager Orozco German started abusing the umpires and was removed from the bench.
   The Argentinian players looked rattled by the incident and let in two goals in two minutes to hand the three points to India.
   The India winners were scored by Affan Yousuf (23rd) and Ramandeep Singh (60th, 62nd).
   Both the Argentina goals were scored by Carlos Ibarra in the 16th and 42nd minutes.



STANDINGS


                                P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
PAKISTAN                2   2   0  0  9  2   6
MALAYSIA               2   2   0  0  9  3   6
INDIA                       2   2   0  0  5  3   6
ENGLAND                 2   0   0  2  3  8   0
ARGENTINA              2   0   0  2  4  7   0
S KOREA                   2   0   0  2  1  8   0

RESULTS -- England 2 Pakistan 6, Argentina 2 India 3, Malaysia 5 South Korea 1.
   TODAY -- REST DAY.

  
    Sept 25: Argentina v South Korea (4pm), Malaysia v England (6pm), India v Pakistan (8pm).
    Sept 26: England v Argentina (4pm), South Korea v India (6pm), Malaysia v Pakistan (8pm).
    Sept 28: Argentina v Pakistan (4pm), India v Malaysia (6pm), South Korea v England (8pm).
    Sept 20: Final and placing matches.

ends/

Malaysia beat Argentina 4-2

MALAYSIA started their Sultan of Johor Cup campaign with a 4-2 win against Argentina with Shahril Saabah claiming a hat-trick at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru yesterday.
   The scoreline indicated an easy win, but in fact it was that Malaysia's penalty corner battery that saved the day by delivering three goals, as the Argentinians also displayed some impressive hockey but were blunt in the semi-circle.
    "We went in looking for a win, and my players rose to the ocassion by beating Argentina comprehensively. This is the kind of attitude and performance I will be expecting from them in the remaining matches," said an elated coach K. Dharmaraj.
   Malaysia play South Korea today: "Even though Pakistan outclassed the Koreans (3-0) they cannot be taken lightly and we will be looking for early goals to make sure of another win," said Dharmaraj.
   Malaysia started on a flying note when in the seventh minute itself, Shahril Saabah converted a penalty corner with a low flick past Argentina keeper Tomas Matias Santiago and postman Nicolas Ciclleo.
   But another penalty corner in the 11th minute was squandered as the push out by Firhan Ashaari way way off and Argentina were let off the hook.
   However Argentina were fortunate to score their equaliser in the 18th minute as a hit by Fredico Lionel Monja struck the stick of Kavin Karthik and sailed past goalkeeper Ahmad Sobri for an own goal.
    Malaysia kept fighting for possession, and off their third penalty corner, they were forced to play a variation when the push out was again off tandem.
   The ball was played back to Fitri Shaari whose goal bound shot was neatly deflected in by Shahril for a 2-1 in the 23rd minute to take a slim lead into the breather.
   Shahril again proved his mettle when Malaysa won their fourth penalty corner three minutes after the restart, and he sent the ball crashing to the top of the net for his hat-trick.
   Syamim Yusof then brought more cheers to the Malaysia side in the 48th minute when he beat three Argentinians before tapping the ball goal-bound and Rashid Baharom made sure by guiding the ball into the goalmouth to get his name on the scoreboard.
   With a 4-1 lead, Malaysia hit a home run for their first three points even though there was still 20 minutes to play.
   Argentina scored their second goal in the 64th minute off Isidoro Carlos but it was too late to douse the Malaysian celebrations.
   In an earlier match Pakistan, powered by their skipper Olympian Umar Bhutta, beat South Korea 3-0.
   The goals were scored by Muhammad Dilber (48th, 63rd) and Muhammad Umair (53rd).
   The Green Shirts play England today: "It took a little time to adjust to the pitch as it was slippery, but the winning start should put us in good stead against England in our next match," said Umar.
  India edged England 2-1 in the second match with the goals coming from Ramandeep Singh in the sixth minute and Talwinder Singh in the 50th.
  The England goal as scored by Stanley French in the 66th minute.
   


STANDINGS


                                P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
PAKISTAN                1   1   0  0  3  0   3
MALAYSIA               1   1   0  0  4  2   3
INDIA                       1   1   0  0  2  1   3
ENGLAND                 1   0   0  1  1  2   0
ARGENTINA              1   0   0  1  2  4   0
S KOREA                   1   0   0  1  0  3   0

RESULTS -- South Korea 0 Pakistan 3, England 1 India 2, Malaysia 4 Argentina 2.
TODAY -- England v Pakistan (4pm), Argentina v India (6pm), Malaysia v South Korea (8pm).


   
    Sept 25: Argentina v South Korea (4pm), Malaysia v England (6pm), India v Pakistan (8pm).
    Sept 26: England v Argentina (4pm), South Korea v India (6pm), Malaysia v Pakistan (8pm).
    Sept 28: Argentina v Pakistan (4pm), India v Malaysia (6pm), South Korea v England (8pm).
    Sept 20: Final and placing matches.

False Gharial...

This sports blog was started in January 2007, when blogging was at its infancy and the only rage was Rocky's Bru and Stephen Francis' Shanghai Fish. Both the blogs were born and also constantly updated from the National Press Club premises.
   The political scene in the country was changed by blogs and bloggers active the NPC premises around 2006-07.
  Rocky and Stephen then suggested that I open a Sports Blog because there was none in Malaysia then, asking me to post my daily stories that were published in the New Straits Times.... as a start.
   I started this blog at the NPC and uploaded my first story on Jan 6, 2007. It was started as an archive for myself to refer, and was never intended to make money.
   The same principles apply today, and the sole ad belongs to a friend who runs the Sports Olympic Hotel. 
   This blog's date of birth is documented by GOOGLE and its displayed under ' View My Complete Profile'.
   So those who want to make false claims about this and that and everything else under the sun and moon, check your facts and do not mislead the public.
  

Malaysia o China 3

Malaysia's Raja Norsharina Raja Shabuddin (left) tries to get to the ball before Mengrong Wu of China in the Women’s Asia Cup. Malaysia lost the match 3-0.

THE STAR..

KUALA LUMPUR: Wang Menyu starred for defending champions China in their 3-0 win over Malaysia in the opening Group A match of the Women’s Asia Cup at the National Hockey Stadium Saturday night.
Menyu was on target from the penalty corner in the 15th minute.
She added the second, also from a penalty corner, in the 50th minute. Liang Meiyu completed the scoring with a field goal in the 68th minute.
The Malaysians’ strategy was to absorb the Chinese attack and then launch fast counter-attacks.
Malaysian coach Mohamed Nasihin Nubli said their plan worked, especially in the first half.
“The scoreline was 1-0 at half time and that was good for us. We had a few good counter attacks after the break but our finishing was poor. China capitalised on our open play and scored twice late in the second half.
“It was a good opening match for the team. We must now focus on the game against Hong Kong tomorrow.
“We need to win big and set us up for the final group match against India,” added Nasihin.
Earlier in Group B, South Korea outclassed Kazakhstan 12-1.
Kim Da-rae was the hero for the Koreans, who have already secured their World Cup place. She contributed four field goals in the 36th, 38th, 39th and 41st minutes. Cheon Seul-ki notched a hat-trick with goals in the 25th, 49th and 53rd minutes.
Kim Jong-eun (19th), Han Hye-young (35th), Cheon Eun-bi (45th) and Park Mi-hyun (52nd and 55th) were the other scorers.
Imangaliyena Gulnara netted the Kazakhs’ sole goal from a penalty corner in the 63rd minute.

Noor Faeez gets second life...

 PIC: MADZLI IKMAR

FORMER National juniors skipper Noor Faeez Ibrahim was  given a second hockey life when chief coach Paul Revington  named him in the training squad for three tournaments and   a Tour this year.
    Noor Faeez skippered the Junior Asia Cup side which won  gold in Malacca and took Malaysia into the New Delhi Junior  World Cup, but his attitude as well as form saw him being  booted out of camp in May.
   He missed the chance to play in the World League semi- finals and also the Asia Cup, and will now have claw back into  the national senior side.
    “I have noticed some changes in his attitude since he was  dropped from the training pool, and with the assurance of  one of our coaches that Noor Faeez can be turned into a  valuable player, we included him back into the training pool  for three tournaments and a Tour until December 31,” said  Revington.
   The 22-year-old Noor Faeez played a pivotal role to take  Malaysia to the Junior World Cup when he was under the care  of juniors coach K. Dharmaraj.
   The other surprise inclusion was Madzli Ikmar, 33, who  retired after the Dublin Olympic Qualifier in March last  year.
    “Madzli has over 300 caps and has shown good discipline  and form playing for his state and club and he has also agree  to come out of retirement and join the training pool,” said  Revington.
    The first assignment will be the Perth Super Series in Oct 17- 20, followed by the Asian Champions Trophy in Kakamigahara, Japan, on Nov 1-10.
   Then there is a Tour to South Korea on Nov 20-Dec 3, and  ends with the Myanmar Sea Games on Dec 11-22.
    Also recalled was S. Selvaraju, 28, and Engku Malek, 29,  who were team-mates in the 2005 Junior World Cup in  Rotterdam -- probably for the Sea Games gold medal quest.