Malaysia make shameful start in India
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia got off to an embarrassing start in the Junior World Cup when they were humiliated 7- 2 by Holland in a Group B match at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium in Lucknow, India.
Wallace Tan’s boys, a last- minute replacement for Pakistan who withdrew from the meet, were pathetic as they were outclassed by the speedy and physically powerful Dutch players.
What’s even more alarming was that the national juniors failed to make a single attempt at their oppo- nents’ goal in the first 35 minutes yesterday.
Holland, the 2014 junior European champions, started aggressively from the first whistle but had to wait until the 19th minute to open the floodgates.
A loose ball fell to Thijs van Dam who promptly whipped it past a hapless Malaysian goalkeeper Muhammad Zaimi Mat Deris.
The Dutch kept up their aggressive play and were rewarded with two penalty corner goals through Thierry Brinkman and Bram van Groesen in the 29th and 33rd minutes.
Holland’s fast attacking game paid dividends after the breather as they netted four goals in 24 minutes.
Terrance Pieters made it 4- 0 in the 40th minute and four minutes later, Daniel Aarts was on hand to deliver a field goal.
Jorrit Croon made it 6- 0 in the 49th minute.
Finally, Malaysia got on the score sheet in the 59th minute when Muhd Hafizuddin Zaidi scored a field goal.
Three minutes later, Groesen grabbed his second and his team’s seventh goal off a penalty stroke.
Malaysia reduced the deficit through a penalty corner goal from Amirol Aideed in the 65th minute.
Egypt, Malaysia’s opponents tomorrow, also got off to a bad start, going down 4- 0 to Belgium.
Defending champions Germany have booked a place in the quarter- finals after chalking up their second win in Group C.
Germany, who edged Spain 2- 1 on Thursday, came back from a goal down to beat New Zealand by the same margin yesterday.
Sam Lane stunned six- time champions Germany with a fourth- minute penalty corner goal.
Germany equalised off a field attempt by Timm Herzbruch in the 24th minute. Anton Boeckel netted the winning goal in the 51st minute.