Wednesday, May 12, 2010

India still lead

STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts

INDIA 5 3 1 1 14 13 10
MALAYSIA 5 2 2 1 15 7 8
KOREA 4 2 1 1 14 7 7
AUSTRALIA 4 2 1 1 14 10 7
PAKISTAN 4 1 2 1 16 14 5
CHINA 4 1 1 2 11 13 4
EGYPT 4 0 0 4 1 20 0

RESULTS: Australia 5 Pakistan 5, China 5 Egypt 1, India 2 Malaysia 5.
TODAY: Pakistan v Egypt (4.05pm), Australia v South Korea (6.05pm), China v Malaysia (8.05pm).
TOMORROW: REST DAY.

Malaysia go on five-goal rampage

MALAYSIA played at a fast-foward pace for 70 minutes to hammer India 5-2 in the 19th Azlan Shah Cup infront of a capacity crowd in Ipoh last night.
The win boosted Malaysia's chance of a good finish, as they end their pool fixtures against China today.
Before the match started, Pakistan had already done Malaysia a favour by holding Australia to a 5-5 draw.
Australia were leading 4-1 by the 40th minute, but a determined push drew them level, and the Green Shirts could have even won the match, if not for two attempts that hit the post, and a near miss in the last three seconds of the match.
Australia ended up with seven points, and will play another tough match against South Korea, who also have seven points, today to determine their fortunes in this tournament.
Malaysia started on a confident note, and kept the ball for long periods, and waited paitently before mounting counter-attacks. And in the fourth minute, Tajol Rosli won a penalty corner after a solo run.
However, Razie Rahim's attempt was palmed away with ease by India goalkeeper Bharat Chetri.
Malaysia received an early blow when stout defender Razie went off in the 15th minute for a cut on his face.
And right after he went out for treatment, Malaysia were awarded their second penalty corner but Faizal Saari's attempt was also stopped by Bharat.
Malaysia received another chance to take the lead when Amit Prabhakar deliberately brought down Faizal Saari in the 27th minute.
This time, Amin Rahim was given the chance, and his powerfull knee-high drag-flick grazed the pads of Bharat and went crashing into the board for the much sought-after lead, which held into the breather.
India tried to get back into the match and were awarded their third penalty corner, but goalkeeper S. Kumar brought off a great save, and Malaysia immediately mounted a sizzler of a counter, and Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin dribbled two defenders, and from an acute angle slammed in a reverse stick shot which went crashing into the net in the 39th minute.
The crowd went wild, and so did the Malaysian players who broke into the India semi-circle right after the re-start, and this time defender Razie Rahim slammed in the third goal, also off a reverse stick attempt, in the 41st minute.
But India refused to be broken and in the 44th minute, Danish Mujtaba pulled one back off a penalty corner attempt.
The night seemed to belong to Malaysia, who won their fifth penalty corner in the 47th minute, and Amin Rahim scored his brace and Malaysia's fourth goal with ease.
There were only 15 minutes remaining for Malaysia to pull off a great victory, and instead of defending, they went on the attack and in the 60th minute, a one-two between Azlan Misron and Azreen Rizal saw the latter slam in the fifth goal from close range and India were truly beaten.
Ravi Pal scored India's second in the 68th minute, but it was too late to salvage the match.

Pakistan hold world champs in 10-goal thriller

By Azlanshahcup.com

World champions Australia were held to a 5-5 draw at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and it makes their chances to make the final a lot more difficult now.
The Aussies had taken a 4-1 lead at one stage but Pakistan came back fighting despite being down by two goals in the last nine minutes and could have even won it in the dying seconds if not for Mohamad Zubair’s miss.
Australia was all over the Pakistan in the opening minutes but it took them 11 minutes to open their accounts via Timothy Bates.
Though Australia forced two penalty corners in the 14th and 15th minutes, Christopher Cierello failed to get the better of Pakistani custodian Imran Shah.
But some fine work by Timothy Bates opened up the Pakistani defence and the ball was relayed to Grant Schubert who put Australia 2-0 ahead in the 17th minute.
Pakistan reduced the deficit in the 21st minute when Muhamad Rizwan weaved past the Aussie keeper George Bazeley to score from an acute angle. However Australia regained their two-goal advantage when Christopher Ciriello scored off their third penalty corner in the 26th minute.
Muhamad Irfan almost reduced the deficit in the dying seconds of the match but was denied by the upright with Bazeley beaten.
Ciriello scored his second of the day in the 40th minute and Pakistan were a beaten side. Luck too was not on the Pakistani teams side as in the 45th minute Muhamad Rizwan’s attempt came off the upright.
Against the run of play, Pakistan reduced the deficit to 4-2 when Irfan and Rizwan combined well to pierce open the Australian defence in the middle with Irfan having the final touch to score in the 53rd minute.
Pakistan was awarded their first penalty corner of the match in the 58th minute and up stepped skipper Muhammad Imran to send a low flick past Bazeley to reduce the deficit to just one goal.
Then Grant Schubert struck for Australia to make it 5-3in the 61st minute but Muhamad Umar Bhutta made it 5-4 in the 64th minute. Imran scored off another penalty corner a minute from time to ensure a grandstand finish and Zubair could have won all three points in the dying seconds but it was not to be.