Malaysian Junior Hockey Team lifts title in the inaugural Sultan of Johor Cup: Match Analysis
Muhammad Noor Faeez Ibrahim stole the limelight with two crucial goals, as the Junior Malaysian Hockey Team defeated Australia by 3-2 in a nerve-wrecking final, clinching the title in the inaugural Sultan of Johor Cup.
The Malaysian team won the title-claiming match that took place at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium, in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, November 12.
Project 2013 Coach, K. Dharmaraj, expressed delight over the triumph in the six-nation invitational tournament.
He observed, “It is a great moment for the game in Malaysia. The players had the belief and got the job done. We told them that we had nothing to lose and it did not matter if we went down fighting”.
He further commented, “They (Players) did it and I must give credit to all the players for their efforts. We had lost to them once and we knew what they were capable of. So, in a way, we only had to push harder and do better in getting the goals”.
Considering the pressure of the match, the two teams started the game at a frantic speed. However, the duo appeared anxious during the game, committing fouls and mistakes in the early part of the match.
The Australians started playing a defensive game in order to pressurise the opponent team, Malaysia.
Mohd Syamim Mohd Yusof of Malaysia made impressive moves at the right corner but he failed to establish the lead for his side.
In a counterattack, Dylan Wotherspoon drove the ball into the semi-circle, unleashing a powerful shot into the cage and earning the first goal for Australia, in the 11th minute mark. The maiden Australian goal developed pin-drop silence in the
jam-packed stadium.
The Australian attackers carried out an attack in the very next minute but failed to double the tally.
Malaysia’s custodian, Hazrul Faiz, made a wonderful dive and cleared the ball from the dangerous zone.
The visitors earned a short corner in the 15th minute of play but to no avail. The goalie from the Malaysian side was strong enough to tackle the strike, palming away the ball out of the circle.
In a counter-offence, the Malaysian team earned a penalty corner in the very next minute but Johan Durst foiled the effort.
The host team received a couple of goal-scoring opportunities but failed to capitalise on them.
In the 26th minute of the mark, the Malaysian team earned another short corner but again failed to make an equaliser.
Malaysian goalie, Hazrul Faiz, displayed a fantastic show by saving plenty of shots in the first half action. The game in the first period concluded with Australia sitting on top by a single goal edge, 1-0.
The home-team flexed its muscles, accomplishing back to back attacks against Australia from the beginning minute of the second period.
Fitri Saari scored a goal in the 43rd minute of the match but Australia regained its lead in the 59th minute mark when Jack Wallace added a goal to his team’s score.
At the point, the Australians presumed that they had won the game. However, everything did not go according to their wishes.
Noor Faeez Ibrahim notched a goal in the second last minute, hurling the two teams in the overtime.
With five minutes into the extra-time, Faeez converted another penalty corner, sealing the victory for Malaysia by 3-2 and clinching the maiden title in the Sultan of Johor Cup.
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