Malaysia open with resounding success

Though the Malaysians had little trouble, they would still be upset with their finishing which left much to be desired. The team coach, however, said the win was important as they face the tough South Koreans in their next match.

In the fifth minute, Malaysia earned the first goal through Norazlan who flicked in a free hit taken by Syayrim. The next 15 minutes saw the Malaysians miss six chances through Syayrim, Suhaimi and Logan Raj.

It was only in the 20th minute that the hosts managed to add to their tally when substitute Fairuz Ramli hit home a rebound from their first penalty corner. In the 25th minute, defender Jiwa moved into the shooting circle and fired home a fine field goal. He was again on target in the 35th minute to give the team a 4-0 half-time lead.

In the second half, the Malaysian team was transformed as they made better use of the chances. Boon Huat was on target in the 40th minute and soon the goals were flowing.

Suhaimi, after a string of misses, struck in the 45th minute and Jiwa then followed up with two more in the 46th and 48th minutes. Two minutes later, Fairuz deflected in a penalty corner in the 50th minute before Mohamed Amin Rahim slotted home the team’s 10th penalty corner in the 53rd minute.

The rout was completed by Logan Raj and Boon Huat in the 65th and 67th minutes respectively.

China opened the scoring in the second minute when Song Yi flashed in a penalty corner flick to put China 1-0 ahead. A minute later, Meng Suo-Zhu was on target with a field goal after dribbling into the circle and taking a shot that stretched and beat the Japanese goal-keeper Takeda Kazuya.

In the sixth minute, China made it 3-0 as Meng was again on target but this time with a penalty stroke. Japan, finally, got one back in the 11th minute when Tamekuni Takeshi converted a penalty corner to cut the scores to 1-3, the score at which the teams went for the break.

Japan pulled back one more goal in the 52nd minute when Miura Tsuyoshi scored off a field goal. The Japansese started attacking with full vigour and in the 60th minute, Watanabe Yusuke was on target with a field goal.

Just when it seemed that the teams would split points, Japan earned a stroke as one of their forward was stick-checked as he was about to take a shot. Tamekuni Takeshi converted the stroke for the match-winner. Japan, after two matches, now have six points and move to the top of Pool B with India second on three points with a match to go.