Britain down Australia to win Azlan Shah Cup
ipoh — Great Britain won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup for the first time ever on Saturday by defeating defending champions Australia 4-3 in Malaysia.
With the victory, Britain became the first European team to win the cup since the Netherlands in 2006.
Entering the final for the first time since their lone title win in 1994, Great Britain led all the way after securing an early lead in the eighth minute. Nine-time champions Australia fought back to take the encounter to the wire, but the British team defended their citadel well and banked on brisk counters to assert pressure on the rivals.
Leading the British challenge was David Goodfield, who scored two goals in the title encounter. Great Britain’s way into the final was paved by India’s lackluster show in their last league outing against Malaysia on Friday. Needing a two-goal win to overtake Great Britain on the league table, India crashed to a onegoal defeat against hosts Malaysia.
India outplayed New Zealand 4-0 to claim the bronze medal, while Malaysia beat Japan 3-1 in the playoff for the fifth spot.
Great Britain scored two goals in the space of four minutes to surge into the 2-0 lead with unmarked Alan Forsyth sending a rasping reverse shot into the net in the eighth minute and Goodfield capitalising on a rebound from the custodian in a set piece penalty corner attempt in the 11th minute.
Stung by the reverse, Australia forced three successive penalty corners in the 15th minute before the ball was successfully deflected out by the goalkeeper.
Australia wasted two more penalty corners in the second quarter before Eddie Okkenden scored their first goal in the 28th minute with his second shot. After picking a pass inside the circle, Okkenden’s first shy was palmed by the British goalkeeper Harry Gibson.