Boys looking good for gold in Asia Cup

2009/11/21

THE Under-18 players injected some hope into the Malaysian hockey scene when they beat South Korea 3-2 in the semi-finals of the Asia Cup in Myanmar yesterday. The boys will now square off against Pakistan, who beat Japan 4-0 in the other semis.

Malaysia have only lost one match in the tournament, 4-3 to Pakistan in a group match, but look good to win a gold medal tomor row.

The national players took the match to Korea, andwere rewarded when Firhan Ashari scored a field goal in the 15th minute and the score held until half-time.

After the breather, the Koreans leveled with a penalty stroke awarded in the 41st minute.

Sabri Mohamed, the younger brother of former national player Tajol Rosli, then delivered with a 50th minute penalty corner goal only to see the Koreans equalise again with 40 seconds remaining on the clock.

However, Sabri was in his element to score a sudden death goal to take Malaysia into the final.

“My boys never gave up and I am happy with their fighting spirit.

The second equaliser came after some confusion on the remaining time, as the clock had stopped a good five minutes before regulation time and my players were in the dark.

“But then, they showed their potential against a physically better team and are nowlooking forward to the re-match with Pa k i s t a n , ” said coach K. Dharmaraj.

The champions of the tournament will play in the Youth Olympics in Singapore in August.

—JUGJET SINGH