Malaysia edge past New Zealand by 9-8: Polo Recap
Huzaini Yunos scored five goals and had an assist, as Malaysia marked a 9-8 victory over New Zealand in their first match of the Asian-Australian-African Championship that took place at the Royal Pahang Polo Club in Pekan on June 14.
It is vital to mention here that the Asian-Australian-African Championship also serves as FIP (Federation of International Polo) World Cup Zone-D Qualifier in which three top teams will get opportunities to play in the 2011 FIP World Cup that is scheduled
to be held in Argentina from October 11 to October 25, 2011.
Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, the President of the Royal Malaysian Polo Association, while talking to the media following the maiden victory, said that the team showed a tremendous spirit in the game. He further stated that they had not faced those
teams earlier, thus this victory means a great boost for them.
He stated, “We have never played any of these teams in such a tournament before. We showed tremendous fighting spirit. The players played their guts out and never gave up even when the chips were down. I hope the players can keep up the momentum for our
next match which is against India.”
Malaysia and New Zealand opened the game furiously and displayed splendid moves in the opening period. The game in the first half of play was no more than a 'ping-pong' fight. Both the teams scored two goals apiece in each chukka of the first half. It was
the best show for spectators who enjoyed the thrilling a show. Malaysia and New Zealand were levelled at 6-6 at the half-time.
The Malaysian side failed to score a goal in the fourth round, while conceded two goals in the seven and half minute of the play. The resilient defence kept the home team at bay and took a two-goal edge, 8-6.
However, the face of the scoreboard changed when Huzaini Yunos chipped in a couple of goals in the final period and tied the knots at 8-8. With three minutes remaining on the clock, Shaik Reismann, the skipper of the Malaysian side, marked a wonderful go-ahead
goal. In the later minutes, the strikers from New Zealand struggled hard to get the equaliser and lost the game at 9-8.
Huziani Yunos was the real architect of the victory and set the pace for Malaysia with five notches. Meanwhile, Edham Shahruddin and his team-mate, Tengku Ahmad Shazril, scored two and one goal respectively, in the triumph.
From the other side, Andrew Parrott scored five goals while his team-mates, Kit Brooks and Gary Vickers, added two and one goal respectively in the loss.
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