World Cup not in striking distance

Argentina players celebrate with the Azlan Shah Trophy after beating India 2-1 in Ipoh.

Sultan Azlan Shah presenting a momento to Argentine skipper Juan Manuel Vivaldi, who is their 28-year-old goalkeeper with 84 caps.

MALAYSIA will not qualify for the 2010 Delhi World Cup, if the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) coaching committee does not inject drastic changes into the forward-line.

The statistics of the past two tournaments — the Japan Olympic Qualifier and the Azlan Shah Cup — are damning on the forwards.

In Japan, Malaysia scored 16 goals and let in 14. The strikers who delivered were Chua Boon Huat (three goals), Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin (three) and Razie Rahim (two). Defenders Jiwa Mohan (two goals), Amin Rahim (two goals), Shahrun Nabil (two goals) and midfielder Kelvinder Singh (two goals) were the other scorers.

At the Azlan Shah Cup, five of Malaysia’s nine goals were scored by defender Amin Rahim from penalty corners while midfielders Kelvinder Singh and Azlan Misron had one each. And only two goals, by S. Selvaraju and Chua Boon Huat, were scored by forwards.

The defenders let in 16 goals, and Malaysia finished last on their own turf. That means in 12 matches, the strikers have only scored 10 goals, with Ismail Abu among those who fired blanks in both the tournaments.

Coach Sarjit Singh’s report after the Japan Qualifier, presented to the MHF council by the coaching committee, showed there were a total of 143 circle penetrations in six matches, while the highest was 43 against Italy, who only entered the Malaysian semi-circle 11 times, but scored four goals in the 4-4 draw.

With Malaysia out of the Olympics, there are no assignments for the seniors this year, but they have a tough Asia Cup next year which doubles up as a qualifier for the 2010 World Cup. The MHF council has agreed to bring in foreign consultants to train the strikers and defenders, while Pakistan’s Shahid Ali Khan trains the goalkeepers.

But the MHF must also bring out it whip, dust it of cobwebs, and drop those who have not been consistent this year. The situation today is that once you cement your place in the national squad, you are assured of a place even though you fail to deliver consistently.

Drop the non-performers, and this lesson will spur the rest to do much better. If not, we can even kiss goodbye to whatever hopes Malaysia have of playing in the 2012 London Olympics.

MARIO ALMADA!

Argentina celebrate after beating India 2-1 in Ipoh, Malaysia.

18/05/08

RESULTS: Final -- India 1 Argentina 1 (Argentina win on golden goal); Third-Fourth: New Zealand 2 Pakistan 1; Fifth-Sixth: Belgium 3 Canada 3 (Canada win on golden goal); Seventh: Malaysia.

MARIO Almada’s brace handed Argentina the Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy only after three attempts, when they beat India 2-1 in Ipoh yesterday.
The tournament was incepted in 1983, but Argentina made their debut in 2006 and ended seventh, and last year their were placed fifth. Both the times, the tournament had eight teams.
The match was tied 1-1 at regulation time, but Almada’s sudden-death deflection ended an Indian dream.
India were dangerous on the counter, but void of ideas when in the Argentine semi-circle, and muffed many chances before perfecting their first penalty corner won in the 11th minute.
Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh sent it to the right of goalkeeper Juan Manuel Vivaldi for the lead, and his ninth goal of the tournament.
Argentina draw level when Mario Almada slammed in a field goal from close range in the 14th minute. The final minute of the first half saw a skirmish, after a botched Argentine penalty corner, but no cards were flashed.
After the breather, the match turned robotic, as both sides played cautiously and only relied on counter-attacks. Argentina were the more dangerous side in the last five minutes, but failed to break the deadlock, and the match went into extra-time, sudden-death.
In the first minute itself, the golden goal came off a Mario Almada deflection, and the Argies got their hands on the Trophy after only three tries.

HALF-TIME: Ind 1 Arg 1

FINAL: Half-time: India take lead with Sandeep Singh penalty corner in the 11th minute, Argentina equalsie off Mario Almada field goal in the 14th minute. India look the better side in attack, but void of ideas in the Argentine semi-circle.
Argentina soak in the pressure, and not their usual cool self. Easily loose ball control, and enter dressing room tied 1-1. India 1 penalty corner, Argies 2.
Sandeep Singh now tournament top-scorer with nine goals.
After the breather, the match turned robotic, as both sides played cautiously and only relied on counter-attacks. Argentina were the more dangerous side in the last five minutes, but failed to break the deadlock, and the match went into extra-time, sudden-death.
EXTRA-TIME:
THIRD-FOURTH: New Zealand 2 Pakistan 1. Bronze Medal for New Zealand. NZ record -- 1991 Fourth, 1995 Bronze, 1998 Fourth, 1999 Sixth, 2000 Sixth, 2003 Bronze, 2005 Fourth, 2006 Fourth.
FIFTH-SIXTH: Canada 3 Belgium 3 when the regulation hooter blew. Canada win on golden goal in the 81st minute.
SEVENTH: Malaysia.

India v Argentina final

Malaysia's Chua Boon Huat epitomises how close the tournament was for Malaysia. At one stage, the story was for Malaysia to beat Belgium and India for a place in the final, but they blew both the matches.17/05/08

INDIA edged Malaysia 2-1 and will meet Argentina in the final of the 17th Azlan Shah Cup tomorrow (18/05/08).
Malaysia will not be involved in the play-offs, as their pathetic display in Ipoh has cemented their faith at the bottom of the seven-team pool.
Argentina, meanwhile, even though had qualified for the final much earlier, played to a 2-2 draw against Canada as a warm-up to the final today.
The Argentines made their debut in in the Azlan Shah Cup in 2006 where they ended seventh in an eight-pool tour nament.
And last year, the Argentines were fifth in a also an eight- team pool.
India are three-time Azlan Shah Cup champions, won in 1985, 1991 and 1995, but it has been a long 13 years since they have lifted the Trophy.
The form-book favours the Argentines, who have yet to be beaten in Ipoh, while India came back into the picture after a disastrous start, which included a 5-1 drubbing in the hands of the South Americans.
Yesterday, India scored off a Shivendra Singh field goal and a Sandeep Singh penalty stroke in the first half, while Malaysia got their consolation after the final hooter, when Amin Rahim scored from a penalty corner.
RESULTS: Argentina 2 Canada 2, India 2 Malaysia 1, New Zealand 3 Belgium 1.
TODAY: Final: India v Argentina (8pm): Third-Fourth: Pakistan v New Zealand (5.30pm); Fifth-Sixth: Belgium v Canada (3pm).
P W D L F A Pts

ARGENTINA 6 4 2 0 19 8 14

INDIA 6 4 0 2 17 16 12

PAKISTAN 6 3 1 2 18 16 10

NEW ZEALAND 6 3 0 3 14 14 9

BELGIUM 6 2 0 4 15 17 6

CANADA 6 1 2 3 7 12 5

MALAYSIA 6 1 1 4 9 16 4

Argentina 2 Canada 2

HALF-TIME: Argentina 0 Canada 0. Argentina four penalty corners and one penalty stroke, which Juan Ignacio Gilardi took but Canada goalkeeper Mike Mahood save.
Canada, defending, only one penalty corner.

SECOND-HALF: Argentina use second goalkeeper Juan Tomas Espinosa first time in tournament, Juan Martin Lopez receive yellow card.
Argentina take lead in 48th minute, off a solo run and slam from Facundo Callioni and then make it 2-0 in the 60th minute when Ezequiel Martin Sosa scores a field goal.
Canada narrow gap with Sukhwinder Singh penalty corner rebound goal in the 61st minute.
Ravi Kahlon finds the equaliser for Canada in the 69th minute, after receiving a long ball from Sukhwinder.