India 2 Malaysia 0

MALAYSIA let slip another chance to touch the Asia Cup trophy when they bungled
more than 10 sitters to hand the final slot to India 2-0 at the Azlan Shah Stadium in
Ipoh yesterday.
    There was an inspiring performance from Paul Revington's men, but they just could
not score while India had to bring out their best to play in the final against South
Korea tomorrow.
   The national team will now play for bronze, against Pakistan, who will not feature in
the World Cup for the first time since its inception in 1971.
    "I'm sorry that Pakistan will not play in the World Cup, but at the same time
congratulations to Malaysia and India. Malaysia will be back in the World Cup after 12
years, and they have worked hard for it," said Korean coach Shin Seok Kyo.
   As for Malaysian coach Paul Revington: "I'm very disappointed with the defeat, as we
created the chances, but did not take them. Now, I will have to motivate the players to
go for the bronze, as that is the only option left."
   A good 30 minutes before the match started, the Malaysian flag was displayed on the
scoreboard and patriotic Merdeka songs were played to whip up the capacity crowd.
   And Malaysia started on a sizzling note, as in the first two minutes itself, Faizal
Saari and Nabil Fiqri blazed into the semi-circle, but their shots were just inches wide.
   South Korea had beaten Pakistan 2-1 in the earlier semi-finals, a result which took
India into the World Cup going by the World League reserve list, and so the second
semi-finals was reduced to the Asia Cup title battle.
   The world League format saw three Asian teams qualify for the Netherlands World
Cup next year -- Korea, Malaysia and India.
   Pakistan, four-time World Cup champions, will sit out for the first time since its
inception in 1971.
   In the first semi-finals, the Korean goals were scored by Jang Jong Hyun (31st) and
Lee Nam Young (40th) while the Pakistan goal was scored by Muhammad Imran (46ht).
    Malaysia looked more determined, but it was India who nailed the first goal off their
first penalty corner in the eighth minute when VR Raghunath nailed his sixth goal of
the tournament.
     There was never a dull moment  20 minutes into the match, as Malaysia went for
the equaliser but miss again as Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin's shot is also just wide, and
the tale of misses continued until the half-time as Malaysia even failed to win a single
penalty corner.
    After the break, Malaysia kept up the pressure and after another handful of bungled
attempts, they finally win their first penalty corner of the match in the 45th minute.
    The ball hits an Indian runners leg and there was a follow on penalty corner but
goalkeeper PR Sreejesh brings out a super save when Razie Rahim made the second
attempt.
     The Malaysian forwardline kept bungling sitters, and in the 60th minute Mandeep
Singh had the easiest task of tapping in the ball from close range to increase the lead
to 2-0.
   RESULTS: Semi-finals -- Pakistan 1 South Korea 2; Malaysia 0 India 2.
   Fifth-Eighth: Japan 3 Bangladesh 0, Oman 2 Taiwan 2 (Oman win shoot-out).
   SATURDAY: Fifth-Sixth -- Japan v Oman (8pm); Seventh-Eighth: Taiwan v Bangladesh
(5.30pm).
   SUNDAY: Final -- South Korea v India (8pm); Third-Fourth: Pakistan v Malaysia
(5.35pm).

Korea shut the World Cup door on Pakistan

DEFENDING Asia Cup champions South Korea edged Pakistan out of the World Cup for the first time since 1971, with a polished 2-1 win at the Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh yesterday.
  But the Korean win dragged World League Fourth Reserves India into the World Cup, even before they played  in the second semi-finals against Malaysia.
   This is because Malaysia and Korea had already qualified for the World Cup, and it does not matter if India, Malaysia or Korea win the Asia Cup title on Sunday -- India will play in the Netherlands World Cup next year. 
   "I'm sorry that Pakistan will not play in the World Cup, but at the same time congratulations to Malaysia and India. Malaysia will be back in the World Cup after 12 years, and they have worked hard for it," said Korean coach Shin Seok Kyo.
    South Korea played like it was a friendly match, and 20 minutes into the first half, they had yet to take a single shot at goal.
  Pakistan looked more desperate as they pushed forward, but skipper Muhammad Imran shot wide a third minute penalty corner.
   The Pakistan forwards kept making inroads with fast breaks, but either shot wide, or were stopped by goalkeeper Lee Myung Ho.
   But with six minutes to the break, Korea finally won their first penalty corner and Jang Jong Hyun scored his seventh goal of the tournament.
   Playing under a constant drizzle, Korea took the lead into the break, as Pakistan plan a comeback to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
   Korea were again the better side, and increased the lead off Lee Nam Yong in the 40th minute, when the veteran picked up a penalty corener rebound and tucked in the ball from close range.
    But Pakistan refused to break down, and increased the tempo of the match and finally narrowed the gap to 1-2 off their third penalty corner. This time, Imran was on target with a sizzler in the 46th minute.
    Pakistan fought gallantly for the equaliser, pushing every man forward and even took out the goalkeeper Salman Akbar and replacing him with a kicking back when only two minutes remained in the match.
   But the equaliser never came and Pakistan were bundled out of the World Cup for the first time since its inception in 1971.
   
           
   RESULTS: Semi-finals -- Pakistan 1 South Korea 2; Malaysia x India x.
   Fifth-Eighth: Japan 3 Bangladesh 0, Oman 2 Taiwan 2 (Oman win shoot-out).
   SATURDAY: Fifth-Sixth -- Japan v Oman (8pm); Seventh-Eigtht: Taiwan v Bangladesh (5.30pm).
   SUNDAY: Final -- South Korea v x (8pm); Third-Fourth: Pakistan v x (5.35pm).

Kuantan to host Champions Challenge I

THE International Hockey Federation (FIH) yesterday announced that Malaysia will
host the men's 2014 Champions Challenge 1 at the Kuantan Stadium on April 26 to
May 4.
   The women's event will be held in Scotland, starting one day later but finishing on
May 4.
  The tournament offers the champion a berth to the 2016 Champions Trophy, and 13th
ranked Malaysia will battle with New Zealand (currently 5th), Spain (joint 6th), South
Korea (joint 6th), South Africa (12th), Canada (14th), Ireland (15th) and Japan (16th).
    Kuantan received two new blue pitches in April last year, and the main field can seat
7.500 spectators and around 3.500 for the second pitch.
   The venue has hosted the Asia Cup in 2009 and women's World League Round 1 in
2012.

Gunning for first title..

MALAYSIA will play two-time champions India in the semi-finals of the Asia Cup at the Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh on Friday.
   India are facing a do-or-die situation to qualify for the World Cup, while Malaysia will be gunning for their first Asia Cup title -- making it a sizzling last four duel.
    The other semis is between South Korea and Pakistan, with the Green Shirts needing a win to keep their World Cup dream alive.
   However, the pressure will be less against India, if South Korea beat Pakistan in the first semi-finals as that result would see them qualify for the World Cup.
  India, who finished sixth in the World League semi-finals, are the fourth International Hockey Federation (FIH) reserves and with South Korea and Malaysia already qualified, it is their turn next.
   And if Pakistan lose to Korea, India do not need to win the Asia Cup title to play at the Hague next year, as even if Malaysia or Korea win India as the fourth reserves will make the cut.
   "We drew 2-2 with India in the last encounter (Azlan Shah Cup) but this side is more determined as they are looking to qualify for the World Cup," said team manager George Koshy.
   And comparing the performance dished out by both the teams so far, it would be skewed towards India, admitted George.
   "India have yet to concede a single goal thus far. But having said that we know India , both the team and their players well and what to expect from them.
    "The coaches will prepare the team to upset the form book . We are
fairly confident with the right mind set , focus , approach and passion we
will be able to turn the tables on India, as they are not invincible," said Koshy.
   And there is no more room for silly mistakes, like the two goals Taiwan scored against Malaysia.
   "The team is in high spirits and motivated to win the match and they know very well
that we can't afford to make silly mistakes because India is more than
able to punish us. The plan is for the team, and the country, to have a memorable Hari Merdeka celebrations," said George.
    For the record, Revington and his men made the final of the Azlan Shah Cup only to lose to 3-2, and Ipoh might just see another super show from Malaysia.
    However, the worryong factor is penalty corner conversions, as Malaysia won 19 in three matches, but have only scored six.
   And all 19 penalty corners were direct attempts by either Razie Rahim or Faizal Saari with not a single set piece utilised to date.
    Maybe coach Revington is keeping the set-pieces for semi-finals onwards, and we will find out when they play India who has yet to lose in the Asia Cup, or even concede a single goal yet.

Malaysia beat Japan to set date with India..

MALAYSIA lived dangerously, but came back from two-goals down to beat Japan 4-2
for a spot in the semi-finals of the Asia Cup hockey tournament in Ipoh yesterday.
   And their highly likely opponents are India, who play Bangladesh today, as a win is
almost assured for the two-time Asia Cup gold medallists.
   "The fighting spirit was excellent against Japan, but we can't afford to play like this
in the semi-finals. We must not give away easy goals if we want to win the Asia Cup
for the first time," summed up Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president
Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
   As for Malaysian coach Paul Revington: "We stayed focussed, and calm, and that is
what won us the match. In the semi-finals, we have a plan to beat India as the target
set for my team is to win the first title."
   Japan score off their first shot at goal, when Malaysia bungled the five-yard rule and
gave away a penalty corner in the fifth minute itself.
   Toshiro Tachibana's drag flick was deflected into goal, and the Japanese became
bolder in their attacks.
   It did not take long for Japan to score their second goal, in the eighth minute, and
this time it was off a field attempt by Kei Kawakami.
    The Malaysian team probably forgot, that they only needed a draw in this match to
advance to the semi-finals, and played sloppy hockey which allowed Japan to
dominate opening play.
   Razie Rahim reminded his team-mates on the statistics as in the 13th minute he
scored Malaysia's first goal off the first penalty corner attempt.
   And Firhan Ashaari's reverse stick drive in the 28th minute gave Malaysia the
equaliser and breathing space to march into the dressing room with dignity.
   The second hald did not start rosy, as four minutes into play, Shukri Mutalib was
benched with a yellow card for stopping a high ball -- as the new International Hockey
Federation (FIH) rule was not used in the Asia Cup.
    Goalkeeper Kumar brings off stunning saves to keep Malaysia in the semis, but
Japan were more dangerous in the second half.
   And in the 60th minute off their seventh penalty corner, Faizal Saari sent the 2,000-
odd crowd into Sevent Heaven when he finally gave Malaaysia the lead with a sizzling
grounder attempt.
   And with seven minutes on the clock, Japan now needed to score two goals to take
Malaysia out of the semi-finals.
   Perak-born Azlan Misron took off the pressure when his diving shot in the 64th
minute gave Malaysia a comfortable 4-2 win.
   

STANDINGS
    Group A:
                      P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
  PAKISTAN   3   3    0   0  24  1  9
  MALAYSIA   3   2    0   1  15  8  6 
  JAPAN         3   1    0   2  7  12   3
  TAIWAN       3   0    0   3  3  28  0
   Group B
                    P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
     
 INDIA           2   2    0   0  10  0  6
 S KOREA    2   1    0   1  9    2   3
 OMAN          2   1    0   1  4  10  3
 B'DESH       2   0    0   2  2  13  0
 
   RESULTS -- Pakistan 13 Taiwan 0, Malaysia 4 Japan 2.
  Wednesday: South Korea v Oman (6pm), India v Bangladesh (8pm).