Canada versus Malaysia at Champions Challenge I: Mid-Match Report
Malaysia and Canada battled rigorously in the first game of the FIH Champions Challenge, being played at the Randburg Hockey Stadium, in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 26.
The first thirty-five minutes of play concluded with both the teams deadlocked one-all.
As the game opened, the two squads created even chances against each other. The pace of the game sped up when the Canadian team made a penetration into the defensive circle of Malaysia.
The Malaysian players were looking slightly defensive in the early part of the match. Canada created a short corner in the 8th minute mark.
Scott Tupper volleyed a powerful hit, scoring the first goal of the tournament and putting Canada ahead of Malaysia, by 1-0.
In counter offence, the Malaysian team made numerous penetrations into the opposite 25-yard line, but the Canadian defenders were brave enough to tackle them.
In the 18th minute of play, Malaysian skipper, Muhammad Razie Rahim was awarded a yellow card after he was caught in a bad tackle just outside the circle.
Canada earned another short corner but this time failed to convert it into a successful goal. However, the missed-shot helped the Canadian strikers to play more diligently.
Within no time, Devohn Texieira drove the ball at the top of the circle, hitting a powerful shot but it went wide and missed the target.
In the very next minute, Philip Wright of Canada missed an opportunity that could double the tally.
The two sides looked frustrated by the puddles of water standing on the pitch, as the ball almost stopped in a pond, at one point.
With five minutes remaining in the match, the Malaysian side started attacking Canada in search of an equaliser. However, the Canadian defenders were not ready to allow the Malaysians a goal.
With three minutes remaining in the first half, Malaysia received a short corner, and decided to test Amin Rahim. He was at his best, slamming a powerful shot in the net and making a tie at one-all.
Both, Malaysia and Canada, played an end-to-end game in the remaining period, as the opening round concluded with the two teams holding a one-all deadlock.
Meanwhile, the second half has started and both the squads are working to break the stalemate.
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