Malaysia qualify for World Cup
MALAYSIA have qualified for next year’s World Cup in Bhubaneswar.
Razie Rahim turned hero as his double earned Malaysia a dramatic 3-2 win over World No 6 India in the quarter-finals of the World League Semi-Finals in London yesterday.
However, Malaysia almost paid the price when they allowed India to come back from a two-goal deficit but Stephen van Huizen’s side regrouped and managed a win.
For India, the defeat is not a huge blow as they will be playing in the World Cup as hosts.
Malaysia will face Argentina in the semi-finals today.
“We are in the World Cup. The boys played their hearts out today and beat India,” said Van Huizen yesterday.
Van Huizen’s side settled quickly by forcing two penalty corners in the first quarter but nothing came off them.
However, Malaysia made it count in the second quarter with two goals.
Razie’s drag flick off a penalty corner set piece beat India goalkeeper Vikas Dahiya in the 19th minute for the first goal.
Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin then deflected Razie’s penalty corner set piece a minute later to give Malaysia a healthy lead.
But India responded through Ramandeep Singh who caught the Malaysian defence napping with a deflection from a cross in the 24th minute.
Two minutes later, India grabbed the equaliser through Ramandeep’s deflection off a penalty corner.
However, Razie unleashed his powerful drag flick off a penalty corner set piece for the winning goal in the 48th minute.
Meanwhile, Argentina defeated a resilient Pakistan 3-1 in the other quarter-final match.
Maico Casella netted a brace in the 22nd and 44th minutes while Gonzalo Peillat netted the other in the 33rd minute.
Peillat has now scored 12 goals in the tournament.
Pakistan responded through Ali Shan’s reverse stick goal in the 49th minute.
Argentina 3 Pakistan 1; Malaysia 3 India 2; S Korea 6 Scotland 3. Ajitpal Singh