ASIA CUP: Malaysia beat Korea again...

MALAYSIA beat South Korea 2-1 Saturday to cement their spot in the Asia Cup Round Robin with a match to spare in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  On Monday, Malaysia will play Oman while South Korea will meet China in the final Group B matches.
  The Koreans sat back and soaked in the pressure for the first 10 minutes, but still, Malaysia could not find the much needed break.
  Only in the last five minutes of the first quarter did the Koreans break into the Malaysian semi-circle, but stout defending kept them at bay.
  The stakes were high for Korea, as they needed to win and keep their World Cup hopes alive, while Malaysia played with great composure to deny them.
  Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin finally gave Malaysia the break, when he deftly dribbled into the semicircle and won the second penalty corner, for Faizal Shaari to nail the opening goal, and his fourth of the tournament, in the 17th minute.
  Faizal again played a pivotal role when Malaysia won their third penalty corner. This time he pushed to the centre for a set-piece and even though the ball was stopped by goalkeeper Hong Doopyo, Azri Hassan tucked in the rebound in the 19th minute.
  However, Korea came back into the match in the 27th minute when Lee Seunghoon scored a field goal from close range.
  But Malaysia played in the remaining minutes to deny South Korea an equaliser.

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ASIA CUP; India check in, Japan in trouble

INDIA hammered Bangladesh 7-0 to become the first team to qualify for the Round Robin of the Asia Cup in Bangladesh yesterday (Friday).
  In another Group A match Japan placed themselves in deep trouble when they played to a 2-2 draw against Pakistan.
  The draw made it difficult for Japan to reach the Round Robbin and challenge for a World Cup berth.
   Now, Japan must beat Bangladesh by a healthy margin in their last Group match on Sunday and hope India beats Pakistan to make the second round.
  Arslan Qadir (16th) and Umar Bhutta (50th) socored for Pakistan, while Kenta Tanaka (22nd) and Heita Yoshihara (29th) delivered for Japan.
  RESULTS: Group A -- Pakistan 2 Japan 2; India 7 Bangladesh 0.

STANDINGS

GROUP A
            P  W  D  L  F  A Pts
INDIA       2  2  0  0  12 1  6
PAKISTAN    2  1  1  0  9  2  4
JAPAN       2  0  1  1  3  7  1
BANGLADESH  2  0  0  2  0  14 0

GROUP B
            P  W  D  L  F  A Pts
MALAYSIA    1  1  0  0  7  1  3
S KOREA     1  1  0  0  7  2  3
OMAN        1  0  0  1  2  7  0
CHINA       1  0  0  1  1  7  0

ASIA CUP: Japan in trouble waters...

JAPAN are in deep trouble after they played to a 2-2 draw against Pakistan in Group A of the Asia Cup in Bangladesh Friday.
  The draw has made it difficult for Japan to reach the Round Robbin and challenge for a World Cup berth.
   Now, Japan must hammer Bangladesh in their last match and hope India beats Pakistan to make the second round.
  Pakistan: Arslan Qadir 16th, Umar Bhutta 50th.
  Japan: Kenta Tanaka 22nd, Heita Yoshihara 29th,.

ASIA CUP: Korea 7 Oman 2

RESULTS: Group B -- Malaysia 7 China 1; South Korea 7 Oman 2.


STANDINGS

GROUP A
            P  W  D  L  F  A Pts
PAKISTAN    1  1  0  0  7  0  3
INDIA       1  1  0  0  5  1  3
JAPAN       1  0  0  1  1  5  0
BANGLADESH  1  0  0  1  0  7  0

GROUP B
            P  W  D  L  F  A Pts
MALAYSIA    1  1  0  0  7  1  3
S KOREA     1  1  0  0  7  2  3
OMAN        1  0  0  1  2  7  0
CHINA       1  0  0  1  1  7  0

ASIA CUP: Malaysia 7 China 1

MALAYSIA played a cool and controlled game under humid conditions to beat China 7-1 in the Asia Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday.
  Coach Stephen Van Huizen's men will next play South Korea on Saturday at 7.30pm Malaysian time and a win will ensure Malaysia's spot in the Round-Robbin.
  Man-of-the-match had to be seasoned campaigner Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, whose quick reflexes handed Malaysia the first goal.
  His goal came off a comedy of errors from China, as all their players in the semi-circle stopped playing, expecting the umpire to blow for a Malaysian penalty corner, but experienced Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin took the lull opportunity to slam in the ball.
  The 12th minute goal took off a heavy load from the Malaysian shoulders.
  China were never in the match after that, as Malaysia almost had total control of the ball and the second goal was scored in the 17th minute by Faizal Shaari.
  Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin scored the third off another classic attempt in the 19th minute and China were in deep trouble.
  Razie Rahim finally got his scoring touch right after the half-time break, when he sent in a sizzling drag flick to the roof of the goalmouth to make it 4-0 in the 31st minute.
  Shahril Saabah made it 5-0 in the 35th minute, while Faizal got his hat-trick in the 41st minute and Ramadan Rosli scored number seven to totally demolish the Great Wall.
  China scored their consolation off E Wenhui in the 56th minute.