Malaysia defeats visiting Japan in third test of five-match event: 4-1 – Hockey Update
Faizal Saari showed super performance and notched a couple of goals, as Malaysia powered a 4-1 win over visiting Japan in the third test of the five-match event that took place at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Malaysia on August 10.
National Hockey coach of Malaysia – Tai Beng Hai expressed satisfaction over the home team which received a win after losing a couple of games. He believes that the national team has done an impressive job regardless of playing the game with fastening. He
explained, “We lost the first two matches because the Muslim players were still adapting to playing before the breaking of fast. But after more than a week of fasting they are used to playing before.”
Malaysian team displayed an excellent game in the first half of play to break the curse over failures. It is vital to note here the home squad of Malaysia lost the first two games of the event by the same 2-1 score. The players particularly the strikers
began the game in quite offensive way and accomplished back-to-back aggressive attacks against the Japanese line-up. With 12 minutes into the play, the home team earned a penalty corner and tested Faizal Saari – the legendary attacker. Saari created a space
and slammed a powerful drag flick to open the scoring at 1-0. Japanese goalie Shunsuke Nagaoka failed to judge the shot at all.
However, the lead could not last for long time, as the visiting team received a short corner and levelled the results. In the 15th minute of the mark, Katsuyoshi Nagasana of Japan converted a short corner with a low-flying shot and tied the knots
at 1-1.
Amazingly, the host side started a furious action and obtained three unanswered goals in the short span of ten minutes. The Malaysian strikers took the advantage of under-pressure Japan and took the game into their favour.
In the 21st minute of the play, Izwan Firdaus received a pass from Hafifihafiz Hanafi and scored the third goal for the team. In the later time, Faizal Saari added one more goal and increased the score at 3-1. Mohd Razie Abdul Rahim, the highest
goal-scorer of the Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) accounted for the final goal in the 30th minute and through a penalty conversion and changed the results into their favour. It was the complete action, as neither Malaysia nor Japan succeeded to make
an addition on the scoreboard in the second frame. The host team of Malaysia won the match at 4-1.
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