GREAT START FOR MALAYSIA
Van Huizen’s men outclass Ireland in opener
MALAYSIA started their Azlan Shah Cup hockey campaign in style, when they beat Ireland 4-1 in Ipoh yesterday. Razie Rahim opened the scoring in the fourth minute with an unusual attempt, as the defender-cum penalty corner flicker scored off a field attempt and added another penalty corner goal in the 24th minute. His hat-trick came off a 44th minute penalty corner.
Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Tengku Abdul Jalil scored the other in the fourth minute. Ireland got their goal in the 53rd minute through Kirk Shimmin.
It was a fantastic first goal from Malaysian skipper Razie. Picking up the ball from a counter attack, he beat two defenders before tucking the ball home with a reverse hit past an onrushing goalkeeper Jamie Carr.
Stephen van Huizen’s side will next play World No 1 Australia today.
Meanwhile, World No 1 penalty corner flicker Gonzalo Peillat led Argentina with a hat-trick (13th, 24th, 33rd) to beat India 3-2.
India’s goals also came off penalty corners, with Amit Rohidas (26th, 31st) bagging a brace.
Argentina, the 2016 Rio Olympic champions, and ranked No 2 in the world, will play Ireland today.
India last played Argentina in the 2017 World League final in Bhubaneswar and lost 1-0. Both teams have met a total of 26 times since the 1948 Olympics with the Indians winning 11 matches.
Argentina manager Blanco Javier said: “It was important for us to start the tournament the best way we can and also to win this match. We tried to play a good game until the rain can. It was our first game and I am happy we won it.”
India head coach Sjoerd Marijne said: “For the first match in the tournament against Olympic champions Argentina, I think we did really well.
“There is of course disappointment in defeat, but we did a lot of good things and there will not be changes against England in our next match.”
Meanwhile, Australia hammered England 4-1 with goals from Dylan Wotherspoon (15th), Blake Govers (19th), Aaron Kleinschmidt (28th) and Lachlan Sharp (39th) while Phil Roper scored for England in the 25th minute.
RESULTS: Australia 4 England 1, India 2 Argentina 3, Malaysia 4 Ireland 1.
TODAY: India v England (4pm), Ireland v Argentina (6pm), Malaysia v Australia (8.30pm).