MALAYSIA SHOCK MIGHTY INDIA
Van Huizen’s men in final after sudden death shootout
MALAYSIA turned giant slayers yesterday by stunning mighty India in a penalty shootout to qualify for the Asian Games men’s hockey final.
The match ended 2-2 at regulation time, and in the heartstopping shootout, goalkeeper S. Kumar brought out the last save in sudden death to take Malaysia to the final.
World No 12 Malaysia will meet either Pakistan or Japan for the Asian Games gold and a direct entry to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“We knew that if we could disrupt their attacking play, we stood a chance the longer we frustrated them,” said Malaysian coach Stephen van Huizen.
“When they drew 2-2 we threw caution to the wind and attacked. I knew if it went to shootout, we would prevail.
“The players showed hunger and desire and that was what took us through to the final”.
As for Indian coach Harebdra Singh, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow.
“Either we gave Malaysia too much respect or not enough respect. And we paid the price for it.”
Harmanpreet Singh gave the World No 5 India a 33rd minute lead off a penalty corner attempt, but Fazial Shaari equalised for Malaysia with a 39th minute field goal.
Varun Kumar again snatched the lead for India via a 40th minute penalty corner, but with two minutes remaining, Razie Rahim finally got his penalty corner act together and took Malaysia into a shootout.
In the shootout sudden-death, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin made it 7-6 for Malaysia while the attempt of India’s S. V. Sunil was thwarted by veteran goalkeeper Kumar for a famous victory.
The stats were not impressive, however, as Malaysia and India got only two shots at goal, and also seven penalty corners each.
However, after missing six, Razie Rahim and his penalty corner battery got number seven right.