KUALA LUMPUR: Young Tigers played their best match of the Junior World Cup to hold world No. 5 Belgium 2-2, but fell short in the shootout at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.
It was a game full of drama, as torrential rain held up the match for 30 minutes, and then Malaysia came back from two goals down to stun Belgium, but only to lose 5-3 on a shootout.
And in the end, Malaysia will play in the 11th-12th bracket on Friday.
It was a shootout miss by Alfarico Lance Liau that spoiled an otherwise glorious day for Young Tigers.
In regulation time Max Luyten (28th) and Hugo Labouchere (36th) scored for Belgium while Ashraf Adam (37th) and Harris Iskandar Osman (51st) drew level for Young Tigers.
Harris had volunteered for the penalty stroke: "I volunteered to take the penalty stroke and knew that I can't miss this golden opportunity. My heart was beating very fast, but I set my mind on a target and drove the ball in."
Belgium and Malaysia coaches Jeroen Baart and Amin Rahim echoed the same sentiments about a rejuvenated Young Tigers.
Discipline and consistency in attack and defence was the difference which almost won Young Tigers their stripes back.
"The Malaysian team played their best match of the tournament with discipline and consistency which troubled my players. In the end, cool nerves won us the shootout and a shot at the ninth position in Kuala Lumpur," said Baart.
"This is actually the true capabilities of my players and even though they showed it late in the tournament, I will expect more from them when they play for the 11th spot in our next match.
"We won eight penalty corners but sterling defending by the Belgium goalkeeper denied us more goals except for one which was turned into a penalty stroke and Harris scored," said Amin.
The fact is that this team is like a Christmas tree, as in some matches they switched off while in others they shone like stars.
This is the challenge that Amin needs to overcome in their final JWC match against either New Zealand or South Africa on Friday.