Malaysia win, but bad play...

MALAYSIA started with a wobbly gait, when they beat Iran 6-1 in the Junior Asia Cup in Malacca yesterday.
   The surprise of the day was when Noraniyan Hamid, managed to score a goal against Malaysia in the 20th minute.
   Skipper Nor Faez Ibrahim saved the blushes with a hat-trick in the fifth, 10th and 38th, while Amir Farid (18th, 61st), Firhan Ashaari (29th),
  Malaysia’s true test will be against South Korea tomorrow, where a win will virtually place them in the Junior World Cup.
  In another Group A match, Korea opened their campaign with a 4-1 win over Japan.
   Korea took the lead in the  sixth minute off their first penalty corner when You Seung Ju put it past Japanese keeper Kusano Daisuke.
   After that, the Koreans placed two men up front at all time, and Seo Inwoo and Hwang Taeli created many chances.
   However, Japan injected hope into their match when they equalised off  Hoshi Suguru in the 27th minute.
   But the Koreans powered ahead with a penalty stroke from skipper Yang Jihun (31st), Jeong Young Seok (59th) and Seo Inwoo (63rd).
  RESULTS -- Group A: Korea 4 Japan 1, Malaysia 6 Iran 1.
  TODAY -- Group B: Pakistan v China (6.05pm), India v Sri Lanka (8.05pm) -- matches at MBM Stadium.

Bizarre goal raises London fears

LONDON — Germany beat Great Britain 3-1 in the test event at the Olympic Park but their opening goal prompted concerns about possible controversy at the 2012 Games if rules were strictly enforced.
    After a goalless first half, Germany were the first team to emerge for the start of the second period.
   When the countdown clock on the scoreboard reached zero, the umpires re-started the match even though several British players were still making their way back onto the pitch.
   Germany's Florian Fuchs then deflected the ball into an empty net.
   Christophe Zeller and Moritz Furste increased Germany's lead before Britain's Ashley Jackson pulled one back for the hosts from the penalty spot.
   "I think we had six or seven on the pitch and the umpires were told to start. It doesn't look great on anyone's part really," Jackson told the BBC.
   Germany coach Markus Weise said: "To me it sounds like a typical hockey thing. I can't imagine other sports starting (like that).
   "It's a very strange rule, probably provided by TV, that a game starts when the countdown is at zero. I don't want to be in a position without 11 players on the pitch and a game starting. It's a bit strange."
   Great Britain coach Jason Lee insisted his team hadn't been time-wasting.
   "It wasn't like we were four or five minutes late, we were 10 or 15 seconds late," Lee said. "But in hockey the ball goes so fast that you can't really get into position at that point.
    "The changing rooms are a little bit further (away from the pitch) than what we'd expect."
    Australia, the world's number one ranked men's side, beat India 3-0 thanks to goals from Russell Ford, Matt Gohdes and Luke Doerner.
   In the women's tournament, Great Britain saw Alex Danson mark her 50th appearance with the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over South Korea.
   Argentina, the reigning world champions, defeated China 3-0.

Malaysian women blow up again..

THE Malaysian women’s hockey team lost 3-2 to Austria in the Olympic Qualifiers in Kakamigahara, Japan, yesterday.
    The women will again meet Austria in the fifth-sixth playoff, on Saturday.
    It was Malaysia’s fourth defeat in the tournament, and the only point they have to show is the 2-2 draw against Belarus.
    Yesterday, Austria took the lead, but Malaysia scored two goals and went into the breather with a 2-1 score.
    However, the Austrian girls scored two more goals in the second half.
   Japan qualified for the final with a 4-0 win over Belarus, and will play Azerbaijan for the Olympic ticket.
    RESULTS: Malaysia 2 Austria 3, Japan 4 Belarus 0, Azerbaijan 2 Chile 2.

FOUR SPOTS FOR ASIA

THE Junior Asia Cup received a big boost before the opening matches today, as the International Hockey Federation (FIH) have eventually agreed to give Asia four spots to the Junior World Cup.
  The FIH decision was made on April 8, but somehow, it got lost in the world of information, as neither the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) nor the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) were privy to the decision earlier.
  AHF had announded in early April that only three spots, including that if Junior World Cup hosts India, will be available in the Malacca tournament.
  However, now if India also make the semi-finals, all four teams will play in New Delhi in November.
  "“While it is good that Asia have been given four places, that still does no shake our aim to win the Asian Junior title for the first time,” said Malaysian team manager Mirnawan Nawawi.
  “The news has eased the pressure on teams here, but with Pakistan, India, South Korea, Japan, China and Malaysia somewhat of same standards, it will be a keen battle to fill up the four places,” addded Mirnawan.
  Eight teams are competing in Malacca, with South Korea, Malaysia, Japan and Iran in Group A, while Group B comprises of Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and China.
  With 16 teams in the 2013 Junior World Cup, Africa has been allotted two places, the same for Oceania and Pan America. Europe has the lions share of awarded six.
  For the Women’s Junior World Cup, Africa has been allotted two places, the same as Oceania. Europe has six spots while Asia and Pan America have three spots each.

Iran optimistic against hosts..

MALAYSIA open their Junior Asia Cup campaign against Iran at the Malacca Stadium today, and it is safe to assume that three points will belong to coach K. Dharmaraj's boys.
  For losing to Iran can't even be fathomed, as the first opponents have only indoor experience. The match might just turn into a goal fest for the hosts.
  However, that has not stopped the Iranians from feeling optimistic, even though they made it thus far by finishing third in the second rung Junior Asia Cup that was held in Hong Kong last year.
  “That bronze in Hong Kong has given hockey in Iran a tremendous boost but we still lack in terms of financial backing as sports like football have a huge following,” said Iran team manager Nader Foroutanian.
   “We have come here to gain experience but that does not mean that we will be pushovers. Though Malaysia are a class act, we will give them a fight. It is not about losing but giving your best on the pitch. And that is what we intend to do against Malaysia,” said Nader.
  Iran have prepared for the Junior Asia Cup by training on indoor pitches for the last six months.
   “We have a 16-team indoor league and use that and other regional tournaments to select players for the national team.
  “Hopefully things will get better and we hope for a decent outing in the tournament here to help our cause of promoting hockey.”
  Iran does not have an artificial pitch, although two are under constructed in Tabriz and Kermanshah.
  And they have been hard at training in Malacca, getting valuable experience playing on an artificial pitch. Their other opponents in Group A are Korea and Japan. In Group B are India, Pakistan, China and Sri Lanka.
  Dharmaraj was spot on when he said: "We have the players to beat Iran, that is for sure. But I am not going to put pressure on the boys by setting goal targets. I believe the win will come with a healthy margin as a boost for the South Korea and Japan matches."