India edge Malaysia 2-1 for final slot

INDIA qualified for the final of the Sultan of Johor Cup when they edged Malaysia 2-1 at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru Thursday.
  With nine points, India are assured of a top-two finish and a chance to defend their title.  Argentina and Britain, who square off today, might decide the other finalists.
  Malaysia must now beat Pakistan on Saturday if they want to play in the bronze playoff.
  "We had the chances to finish off this game, but could not perfect our finishing. Also we gave away too many penalty corers and we can't afford this in the Junior Asia Cup," said Malaysian coach Arul Selvaraj.
  India are in Malaysia's group in the Junior Asia Cup in Kuantan next month, which offers the semi-finalists a chance to play in the New Delhi World Cup next year.
  "We had a good look at India today (yesterday) and this will be an invaluable experience when we play them again in Kuantan," said Arul.
  Malaysia held India at arms length in the first half, as there was almost perfect stopping and passing, and the only thing lacking was shots at goal.
  India won two penalty corners, early in the match, but good running and an alert goalkeeper Ridzwan Azmi denied them an early lead.
  As the Malaysian boys trooped into the dressing room, the capacity crowd gave them a rousing cheer for winning the fitness and sprints part of the match.
  Mistakes crept into the Malaysian game in the second half, as the defenders gave away easy penalty corners to put pressure on themselves.
  A total of eight penalty corners were given away, and Harmanpreet Singh scored in the 41st and 56th for a comfortable lead.
  Malaysia put up a fight in the last five minutes, and Shahril Saabah scored his fifth penalty corner goal of the tournament for a 1-2 ending.
  In another match, it was heart-break for Britain as they were denied a spot in the final when Australia equalised in the final minutes to hold them to a 4-4 draw.
  The score was 4-3 in favour of Britain, and there was only two minutes remaining on the clock when Australia removed their goalkeeper and brought in a kicking back.
  The move worked as they won a penalty corner, and Andrew Scanlon nailed the equaliser by placing the ball between goalkeeper Ashleigh Thomas' pads.
   Britain got their goals off Jack Clee (8th), Luke Taylor (27th, 35th) and Jack Waller (67th). The Australian goals were scored by Ryan Proctor (31st), Frazer Gerrard (55th), Stephen Gale (65th) and Scanlon (70th).
 RESULTS: Pakistan 1 Argentina 3, Britain 4 Australia 4, India 2 Malaysia 1.
  FRIDAY: REST DAY
  SATURDAY: Argentina v Britain (4.35pm), Australia v India (6.3pm), Malaysia v Pakistan (8.35pm).

STANDINGS


               P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
INDIA          4  3  0  1  13 8  9
BRITAIN        4  2  2  0  12 9  8
ARGENTINA      4  2  1  1  8  6  7
AUSTRALIA      4  1  1  2  12 10 4
MALAYSIA       4  1  1  2  8  10 4
PAKISTAN       4  0  1  3  4  14 1

Famous win for Malaysia

MALAYSIA played like men possessed to beat Australia 3-2 in the Sultan of Johor Cup at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru yesterday.
  Australia won 10 penalty corners and tried every trick in the book, even removing their goalkeeper and relaying on a kicking back four minutes to end, but Malaysia held on for this famous victory.
  Playing in-front of a capacity crowd, standing and sitting shoulder-to-shoulder, Malaysia took the match to the Australian circle and scored off their first penalty corner of the match in the fifth minute.
  Shahril Saabah, who has experience playing with the senior team, almost tore the netting with a powerful drive.
  Malaysia mounted a series of attacks after that, but failed to increase the lead. Australia won seven penalty corners in the first half, but failed all while Malaysia trooped into the dressing room with 100 per cent penalty corner conversion.
  And it was a dream start in the second half, as Norsyafiq Sumantri pounced on a rebound to claim Malaysia's second goal in the 38th minute.
  But Australia finally got penalty corner number eight right in the 43rd minute when Frazer Gerrard beat goalkeeper Ridzwan Azmi with a low drive.
  Australia started to play robust hockey after that, and two players were yellow carded. Malaysia pinned them in the semi-circle and won their second penalty corner in the 55th, and Najmi Jazlan's low drive made it 3-1.
  Max Hendry made it 2-3 in the 63rd minute, and with four minutes left on the clock, Australia took out goalkeeper Matthew Finn and relied on a kicking back but there was no denying Malaysia their glorious win.
  Man-of-the Match went to goalkeeper Ridzwan Azmi, who had two earlier bad games, but was on fire against the Aussies.
  The next two matches are vital for Malaysia, as they meet Junior Asia Cup opponents India today and Pakistan on Saturday.
  Coach Arul Selvaraj's charges must show that they can beat, or match, both the teams heading into the Junior World Cup qualifier in Kuantan next month.
  "We are indebted go the fans who came out in force and believed in us. Today's (yesterday's) game was on how to maintain a hold after taking a lead, and also ingraine a winning mentality in the team," said Arul.
  As for India, our next opponents: "We need to check on our anger in the next two games as we received two yellow and three green cards and men were out at crucial momenents.
  "India are in the same pool with us in the Junior Asia Cup, while we might meet Pakistan in the crossover so both the matches are actually the most important 'assignments' in the SOJC."
  Defending champions India were made to sweat buckets before they overcame a stubborn Argentina. The India goals were scored by Armaan Quereshi (third), Gurjant Singh (11th) and Nilakanta Sharma (50th). Argentina got their goals off Maico Casella (39th) and Nicolas Keenan (54th).
  Pakistan played their best game of the tournament, yet, to hold table toppers Australia to a 0-0 draw.
  RESULTS: Britain 0 Pakistan 0, Argentina 2 India 3, Mlaysia 3 Australia 2.
   TODAY: Pakistan v Argentina (4.35pm), Britain v Australia (6.35pm), India v Malaysia (8.35pm).


STANDINGS


               P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
BRITAIN        3  2  1  0  8  5  7
INDIA          3  2  0  1  11 7  6
ARGENTINA      3  1  1  1  5  5  4
MALAYSIA       3  1  1  1  7  8  4
AUSTRALIA      3  1  0  2  8  6  3
PAKISTAN       3  0  1  2  3  11 1

Malaysia hold Argentina 2-2

IT WAS a penalty corner contest, when Malaysia stole a point off Argentina in a hard-fought 2-2 draw in the Sultan of Johor Cup at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru yesterday.

  After losing 2-4 to Britain on Sunday, Malaysia were more composed as Shahril Saabah scored a penalty corner brace, while Tomas Domene replied the favour for the first draw of the tournament.

  "Credit is due to all my players who bounced back after losing to Britain," said coach Arul Selvaraj.

  After a day's break, Malaysia play Australia: "The break is a welcome relief after we played two back-to-back tough matches. It will be used to motivate my players for another good performance against Australia," said Arul.

  Australian coach Ben Bishop said his boys are looking forward to the Malaysian match.

  "Malaysia are a hard-working side and we expect them to give us a tough time. Backed by a very vocal crowd, I believe it is going to be a very challenging time for us," said Bishop.

  Malaysia were a more composed side as they pinned Argentina for long periods and kept winning penalty corers. And this time, Shahril Saabah did not disappoint his fans.

  Shahril gave Malaysia the lead off a sixth minute penalty corner, but Argentina equalised also off a penalty corner when Tomas Domene scored in the 26th minute.

  Shahril, who played with the senior side in the World League Semi-finals in Belgium, re-took the lead in the 31st minute and Malaysia walked into the dressing room with a slim lead.

  The natinal juniors were in their element in the second half, but bungled too many chances and Domene punished them with a penalty corner attempt in the 61st minute.

  In another match, Silver medallists Britain edged gold medallists India 4-3 in a pulsating match, with Luke Taylor taking the starring role again.

  Taylor, who hit a hat-trick against Malaysia, scored a brace with the second match-winner coming two minutes from time.

  The Britain goals were scored by James Simpson (ninth), Luke Taylor (30th, 68th) and Jack Clee (47th). India's goals were scored by Sumit Kumar (17th, 26th), Manpreet Singh (29th).

  Australia bounced back in style when they hammered Pakistan 6-2, after losing their opening match 1-0 to Argentina.

  The Australian goals were scored by Andrew Scanlon (8th, 12th), Hayden Beltz (27th), Jack Welch (63rd) and Max Hendry (29th, 69th). 

  Pakistan got their goals off Ali Mubashar in the 31st and 41st minutes.

  RESULTS: Australia 6 Pakistan 2, Britain 4 India 3, Malaysia 2 Argentina 2.

  TODAY: REST DAY.

  TOMORROW: Britain v Pakistan (4.35pm), Argentina v India (6.3pm), Malaysia v Australia (8.35pm).

STANDINGS

                           P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts

BRITAIN            2  2  0  0  8  5  6

ARGENTINA      2  1  1  0  3  2  4

INDIA                2  1  0  1  8  5  3

AUSTRALIA      2  1  0  1  6  3  3

MALAYSIA       2  0  1  1  4  6  1

PAKISTAN       2  0  0  2  3  11 0

Arul: Goalkeeper Ridzwan let us down...

MALAYSIA were humbled 4-2 by Sultan of Johor Cup silver medallists Britain at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru yesterday.
  A hat-trick of penalty corner goals from skipper Luke Taylor doused Malaysia's fire after coach Arul Selvaraj's boys came back from two goals down to hold Britain 2-2.
  "Many things that went wrong but the worse was our goalkeeper. Extremely poor goalkeeping from Ridzwan Azmi and he has to take responsibility for this defeat because he let in three soft goals," said Arul.
  Arul also took to task the three senior players in the team for not carrying their weight: "Three players who have played with the senior side in many tournaments also had a poor outing and they should take part of the blame too. I hope this does not happen in Kuantan (Junior Asia Cup)."
  The three experienced players are Shahril Saabah, Haziq Syamsul and Meor Azuan Hassan.
  Malaysia played well in attack and defense to keep Britain busy and it was an entertaining match which was truly enjoyed by the capacity crowd.
  Fitness was on Malaysia's side, as they ran circles around the British, but could not find the mark as the match reached the 30th minute mark.
  Britain won the first penalty corner of the match in the 25th minute but the ball hit the bar.
  However, in the 32nd minute, skipper Luke Taylor's second penalty corener attempt was palmed by goalkeeper Ridzwan Azmi, but the ball rolled in for the lead.
  Immediately upon restart, Malaysia won their first penalty corner but poor trapping saw them trailing 0-1 at the half-time break.
  Malaysia bungled their second penalty corner as well in the 44th minute, and Britain mounted a counter-attack to score their second goal off Robert Gleeson.
  However, the Malaysian side kept fighting and Azwar Rahman scored the first off a field attempt in the 48th minute, while Shahril Saabah equalised at 2-2 in the 50th minute off Malaysia's third penalty corner.
  However, Brtain re-took the lead in the 62nd minute, when Taylor scored his second off another penalty corner.
  Luke got his hat-trick in the 68th minute, and it was all over for Malaysia.
  Defending champions India hammered Pakistan 5-1, to confirm their favourites tag. At half-time, India took a comfortable 4-0 lead into the dressing room.
  The India goals were scored by Ajay Yadav (fifth), Sumit Kumar (23rd), Armaan Qureshi (27th), Parvinder Singh (34th), Santa Singh (60th). The Pakistan consolation was scored by Muhammad Dilber in the 45th minute.
  In the first match of the day, debutants Argentina beat Australia 1-0 when Ladislao Gencarelli scored off a declection in the 65th minute.
  Argentina play Malaysia today, and coach Mariano Ronconi will be sending his team one to the pitch 'blindfolded'.
  "Frankly speaking, I don't have a clue about the Malaysian team but that is not a problem as we are going to play to our strength and learn as well as adapt as the agame progresses," said Ronconi.


RESULTS: Argentina 1 Australia 0, India 5 Pakistan 1, Malaysia 2 Britain 4.
  FIXTURES: Oct 12: Australia v Pakistan (4.35pm), Britain v India (6.3pm), Malaysia v Argentina (8.35pm).
  Oct 13: REST DAY.
  Oct 14: Britain v Pakistan (4.35pm), Argentina v India (6.3pm), Malaysia v Australia (8.35pm).
  Oct 15: Pakistan v Argentina (4.35pm), Britain v Australia (6.3pm), Malaysia v India (8.35pm).
  Oct 16: REST DAY
  Oct 17: Argentina v Britain (4.35pm), Australia v India (6.3pm), Malaysia v Pakistan (8.35pm).
  Oct 18: Final and placing matches
  

STANDINGS


               P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
INDIA          1  1  0  0  5  1  3
BRITAIN        1  1  0  0  4  2  3
ARGENTINA      1  1  0  0  1  0  3
AUSTRALIA      1  0  0  1  0  1  0
MALAYSIA       1  0  0  1  2  4  0
PAKISTAN       1  0  0  1  1  5  0

Shahril could turn king-maker...

MALAYSIA will be banking on penalty corner ace Shahril Saabah to get off on a flying start when they host Britain in the curtain raiser of the Sultan of Johor Cup today.
  The other world class teams in the SOJC are India, Australia, Argentina and Pakistan. All matches will be played at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru, and the entrance is free.
  Shahril made his mark while playing for Bandar Penawar Sports School in the Junior Hockey League, and is now fast becoming among the best penalty corner executioner in the country. 
  Malaysia played a friendly with Britain on Friday and lost 3-2: "We were trying out several tactical moves in the practice match and were really not at our best.
  "We are looking at a winning start and from my personal perspective, it’ll be nice to be on the scoring sheet against Britain, but more importantly its the three points that matter.”
  Shahril was a member of the 2013 Junior World Cup squad that finished fourth in New Delhi, and his experience will be invaluable in the SOJC.
   Malaysia, coached by Arul Selvaraj, will be hoping for a creditable performance ahead of the Junior Asia Cup that will be held in Kuantan next month. 
   Having had seven months of training together, the team, although short on international exposure will be counting on grit and determination to see them through to achieve their target of a podium finish.
  Last year it was a miserable fifth: "I'm looking for a positive attitude and consistency in matches from my players throughout the week.” said Arul who was also the coach of the team that finished fifth last year.
  “We will be trying out things that we have learned in training in order to gauge the ability of the players to perform at higher levels.”
  “I expect the players to give their best as this tournament will also serve as a selection process for the final squad of the Junior Asia Cup.”
  Britain’s manager Paul Gannon is looking forward to playing the hosts today.
  "It’s an exciting opportunity for us to play against the host team as they have home ground advantage.
  “But we won’t worry too much about Malaysia, we will focus on our own strengths and hopefully play well enough to win and kickstart a positive tournament run for,” said Gannon.
  Defending champions India beat Britain 2-1 in the final last year, with the winning goal coming in the final minute via Hermanpreet Singh. 
  They were also the champions in 2013 and will be looking to make a hat-trick of titles this year.
  “It will be nice to win (their third title) but we’re not going to put pressure on ourselves as the five other teams are also capable of winning the title this year,” said India coach Harendra Singh.
  India will start against Pakistan today.
  FIXTURES: Sunday -- Argentina v Australia (4.35pm), India v Pakistan (6.3pm), Malaysia v Britain (8.35pm).
  Oct 12: Australia v Pakistan (4.35pm), Britain v India (6.3pm), Malaysia v Argentina (8.35pm).
  Oct 13: REST DAY.
  Oct 14: Britain v Pakistan (4.35pm), Argentina v India (6.3pm), Malaysia v Australia (8.35pm).
  Oct 15: Pakistan v Argentina (4.35pm), Britain v Australia (6.3pm), Malaysia v India (8.35pm).
  Oct 16: REST DAY
  Oct 17: Argentina v Britain (4.35pm), Australia v India (6.3pm), Malaysia v Pakistan (8.35pm).
  Oct 18: Final and placing matches