13/05/08
RESULTS: Belgium 4 India 6, Canada 1 Pakistan 2, Malaysia 0 Argentina 5.
MALAYSIA were blanked out 5-0 by Argentina in the 17th Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh yesterday.
The defeat has almost shut the final door on Malaysia, while the Argentines and Pakistan remain unbeaten.
Malaysia were a bundle of nerves, and gave away possession too easily, and allowed Argentina to enter the dressing room with a healthy 2-0 lead.
The national players were not sharp enough in the semi-circle, and wasted two penalty corners that came their way in the first half.
Amin Rahim’s first attempt was palmed away by the goalkeeper, while his second flick went wide.
Argentina took the lead in the 19th minute when Facundo Callioni stood at the far post and connected a free-hit which sailed past a sea of Malaysian hockey sticks.
And in the 28th minute, Callioni was again on target, when he deflected a penalty corner attempt from the penalty spot to claim a brace.
With two seconds remaining in the half, Malaysia almost snatched the tonic they needed, but Ismail Abu’s diving attempt to connect a cross was just short of the target.
The second half started on a wrong note, when defender Jiwa Mohan was sent to the sin-bin for a rough tackle in the 41st minute, and coach Sarjit Singh had to bench a few forwards and send in the defenders.
Argentina pushed forward, and won a penalty stroke after Madzli Ikmar used his head-gear to stop the ball in a 46th minute penalty corner.
Juan Gilardi flicked in from the penalty spot, and Malaysia looked like they had no more will-power to stage a come-back even though there was plenty of time left.
Lucas Hernan slotted in the fourth in the 54th minute, and reduced Malaysia to a loose outfit, and it was easy for Thomas Argento to score the fifth in the 68th minute.
Meanwhile, India beat Belgium 6-4, after taking a comfortable 5-1 lead in the first half.
Shivendra Singh (9th, 68th), Sandeep Singh (29th, 35th), Diwakar Ram (22nd), and S.V. Sunil (32nd) scored for India. Belgium got their goals off Thomas Briels (45th, 59th), Alexandre De Sadeleer (24th) and Charles Vandeweghe (61st).
Even in victory, their second in the tournament, India coach A.K. Bansal described it as a ‘horrible win for them’.
"However, we will go for wins in our two remaining matches, (Pakistan and Malaysia) to qualify for the third placing playoff,"
TODAY: Rest Day.
TOMORROW: New Zealand v Argentina (4pm), Belgium v Pakistan (6pm), Malaysia v Canada (8pm).
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
ARGENTINA 4 3 1 0 15 5 10
PAKISTAN 4 3 1 0 14 9 10
INDIA 4 2 0 2 13 14 6
CANADA 3 1 0 2 3 5 3
MALAYSIA 3 1 0 2 4 8 3
NEW ZEALAND 3 1 0 2 7 11 3
BELGIUM 3 0 0 3 5 9 0
ends/
Monday, May 12, 2008
India 6 Belgium 4
12/05/08
INDIA: Shivendra Singh (9th, 68th), Sandeep Singh (29th, 35th), Diwakar Ram (22nd), S. V. Sunil (32nd).
BELGIUM: Thomas Briels (45th and 59th), Alexandre De Sadeleer (24th), Charles Vandeweghe (61st).
Note: I have left Ipoh for Kuala Lumpur (two and a half hour drive) for another assignment. So the updates will be slow, as I have to rely on ESPN and friends at the Azlan Shah Stadium.
Reporters there said India coach A. K. Bansal "said that it was a horrible win for them', as they allowed Belgium too much space in the second half.
INDIA: Shivendra Singh (9th, 68th), Sandeep Singh (29th, 35th), Diwakar Ram (22nd), S. V. Sunil (32nd).
BELGIUM: Thomas Briels (45th and 59th), Alexandre De Sadeleer (24th), Charles Vandeweghe (61st).
Note: I have left Ipoh for Kuala Lumpur (two and a half hour drive) for another assignment. So the updates will be slow, as I have to rely on ESPN and friends at the Azlan Shah Stadium.
Reporters there said India coach A. K. Bansal "said that it was a horrible win for them', as they allowed Belgium too much space in the second half.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Pakistan 3 Argentina 3
11/05/08
RESULTS -- Canada 1 India 3, Malaysia 2 New Zealand 0, Pakistan 3 Argentina 3.
TODAY: Belgium v India (4pm), Canada v Pakistan (6pm), Malaysia v Argentina (8pm).
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
ARGENTINA 3 2 1 0 10 5 7
PAKISTAN 3 2 1 0 12 8 7
MALAYSIA 2 1 0 1 4 3 3
CANADA 2 1 0 1 2 3 3
INDIA 3 1 0 2 7 10 3
NEW ZEALAND 3 1 0 2 7 11 3
BELGIUM 2 0 0 2 1 3 0
ends/
RESULTS -- Canada 1 India 3, Malaysia 2 New Zealand 0, Pakistan 3 Argentina 3.
TODAY: Belgium v India (4pm), Canada v Pakistan (6pm), Malaysia v Argentina (8pm).
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
ARGENTINA 3 2 1 0 10 5 7
PAKISTAN 3 2 1 0 12 8 7
MALAYSIA 2 1 0 1 4 3 3
CANADA 2 1 0 1 2 3 3
INDIA 3 1 0 2 7 10 3
NEW ZEALAND 3 1 0 2 7 11 3
BELGIUM 2 0 0 2 1 3 0
ends/
Malaysia 2 New Zealand 0
11/05/08
MALAYSIA outclassed New Zealand in every department to win 2-0 in the 17th Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh yesterday.
The national players were a class above, and could have score at least another three, but the crowd did not mind, as a win against an Olympic side was more than enough for them.
Malaysia were a bundle of nerves for 10 minutes, and the Kiwis almost ran riot in
the semi-circle and took three pot shots which went sizzling left, then right, and the
one that went smack in the middle was saved brilliantly by goalkeeper S. Kumar. But after the close shaves, the national team settled down, New Zealand were
forced to defend for long periods, before they cracked in the 32nd minute. A cross from Amin Rahim found Chua Boon Huat's stick and the ball bounced off
Kiwi goalkeeeper Paul Wool Ford right into Azlan Misron's path. Chua moved aside, and Azlan slammed in a cracker to hand Malaysia a well
deserved lead. Otherwise, the first half saw some stout defending by New Zealand and Malaysia,
and both teams went into the dressing room without conceeding any penalty
corners. The second half was a sizzler, as New Zealand opened up looking for the
equaliser, but the Malaysian defenders Baljit Singh Charun, Jiwa Mohan and Madzli
Ikmar made the least possible mistakes. And just when the Kiwis were loking comfortable inside the Malaysian semi-circle,
a 43rd minute counter was initiated from a deep in defence by Azlan Misron, who
found Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin. Tengku released the ball to S. Selvaraju, and the
Perak-born player cooly pushed the ball in and the scoreboard read: Malaysia 2
New Zealand 0. The Kiwis tried their level best after that, but Malaysia proved that they were made of sturdier stuff, and sailed home on the two goals.
"Malaysia played very well infront of their home crowd, and it is always difficult to beat a team which scores first, and then has a strong backing from the gallary," said New Zealand coach Shane McLeod.
National coach Sarjit was not happy with the first half, and said the margin of victory could have been bigger.
"The first half was a little slow, but we had ball possession, and kept ourselves in the match. The second half was almost perfect, but for the three chances which we muffed. But that is to be expected, in a highly charged match.
"Now, we must recover from this match, and play just as well against the hard-running Argentine side tomorrow (today)," said Sarjit.
MALAYSIA outclassed New Zealand in every department to win 2-0 in the 17th Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh yesterday.
The national players were a class above, and could have score at least another three, but the crowd did not mind, as a win against an Olympic side was more than enough for them.
Malaysia were a bundle of nerves for 10 minutes, and the Kiwis almost ran riot in
the semi-circle and took three pot shots which went sizzling left, then right, and the
one that went smack in the middle was saved brilliantly by goalkeeper S. Kumar. But after the close shaves, the national team settled down, New Zealand were
forced to defend for long periods, before they cracked in the 32nd minute. A cross from Amin Rahim found Chua Boon Huat's stick and the ball bounced off
Kiwi goalkeeeper Paul Wool Ford right into Azlan Misron's path. Chua moved aside, and Azlan slammed in a cracker to hand Malaysia a well
deserved lead. Otherwise, the first half saw some stout defending by New Zealand and Malaysia,
and both teams went into the dressing room without conceeding any penalty
corners. The second half was a sizzler, as New Zealand opened up looking for the
equaliser, but the Malaysian defenders Baljit Singh Charun, Jiwa Mohan and Madzli
Ikmar made the least possible mistakes. And just when the Kiwis were loking comfortable inside the Malaysian semi-circle,
a 43rd minute counter was initiated from a deep in defence by Azlan Misron, who
found Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin. Tengku released the ball to S. Selvaraju, and the
Perak-born player cooly pushed the ball in and the scoreboard read: Malaysia 2
New Zealand 0. The Kiwis tried their level best after that, but Malaysia proved that they were made of sturdier stuff, and sailed home on the two goals.
"Malaysia played very well infront of their home crowd, and it is always difficult to beat a team which scores first, and then has a strong backing from the gallary," said New Zealand coach Shane McLeod.
National coach Sarjit was not happy with the first half, and said the margin of victory could have been bigger.
"The first half was a little slow, but we had ball possession, and kept ourselves in the match. The second half was almost perfect, but for the three chances which we muffed. But that is to be expected, in a highly charged match.
"Now, we must recover from this match, and play just as well against the hard-running Argentine side tomorrow (today)," said Sarjit.
India 3 Canada 1
11/05/08
India turned on the heat in the second half to beat Canada 3-1. India clawed back into the match after being a goal down, scored by Canadian Wayne Fernandes in the eight minute, and now have a better chance of a respectable finish in this tournament.
Canada held onto the lead until the first half hooter, but cracked under
tremendous pressure after the break.
India got their equalsier off a penalty stroke in the 44th minute, slotted in by Diwakar Ram, who then gave India the lead off a 51st minute penalty corner.
Shivendra Singh doused Canadian hopes when he scored off a field attempt in
the 53rd minute.
India turned on the heat in the second half to beat Canada 3-1. India clawed back into the match after being a goal down, scored by Canadian Wayne Fernandes in the eight minute, and now have a better chance of a respectable finish in this tournament.
Canada held onto the lead until the first half hooter, but cracked under
tremendous pressure after the break.
India got their equalsier off a penalty stroke in the 44th minute, slotted in by Diwakar Ram, who then gave India the lead off a 51st minute penalty corner.
Shivendra Singh doused Canadian hopes when he scored off a field attempt in
the 53rd minute.
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