Malaysia’s 3-2 win over Japan puts India into final of Asian Champions Trophy in China
Second half show by the youngsters Faisal Saari and Amir Farid Ahmad Fuzi helped Malaysia to score a tremendous 3-2 victory over Japan, in their last group game of the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament played in Ordos, China, on Friday,
September 9.
The result of this game has helped India to reach the final of the event where they will face the challenge of Pakistan, the Asian Games Champions on Sunday, September 11.
The Japanese who were on third place in the points table with seven points required just a simple victory to qualify for the final as the game between Pakistan and India had been concluded at a 2-2 draw which put the Greenshirts into the final with ten points
while leaving the Indians with nine points to wait for the result of the Japan-Malaysia game.
Although Japan led the first half 2-0 they could not capitalise on their lead and the Malaysians scored three goals in the last 25 minutes to steal the victory. Koji Kayjawa opened the Japanese account on a penalty stroke in the 23rd minute before
Shinji Kawauchi doubled the lead in the 35th minute.
However, the Malaysians fought back in the second half with Amir Farid netted the ball twice in the 46th and 55th minutes followed by a decider of the match by Faisal Saari in the 66th minute.
Tai Beng Hai, the national coach, recognised his team’s first-half poor show under pressure and the tough weather conditions but he looked very convinced with his team’s effort against Japan. The Japanese team is in tremendous form in the event as they defeated
the Asian Games Champions, Pakistan 3-1 at the group stage.
“But it was quite a turnaround in the second-half. It showed that we can play good hockey too. We have reached our target of a top-four finish ... but we do not aim to stop there,” Tai Beng Hai, the coach of the Malaysian team said.
“It was very windy and cold. But the players managed to stay calm and stage a recovery in the second half. We have played Japan before and we know their game well but the two first-half goals were a setback and added more pressure on the team,” Tai Beng
Hai stated about his athletes’ efforts against Japan in tough weather conditions.
Both the teams will again meet each other in the bronze medal match on Sunday, September 11. It will be interesting to see how the Malaysian team is able to carry their winning momentum forward and take on Japan again, as they look for a decent third place
finish in the exciting tournament.
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