MJWC: Unlucky Malaysia go down to Argentina 
 |
| Malaysia |
June 30, 2005
Malaysia Star, Malaysia
> Page Views 1389
BY S. RAMAGURU
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia went down to Argentina by a solitary goal in their second Group B match at the Junior World Cup at the Rotterdam Hockey Club yesterday.
The win confirmed Argentina's place in the second round while the Malaysians will have to wait for the last match against Germany tomorrow to seal their place. They will need a draw to make sure of their place as the South Africans who are without a win can still pip them if they beat Argentina in their last group match.
The Malaysians have already beaten South Africa while the Germans had lost to Argentina in the opening day.
Yesterday, the Malaysians not only had to battle a determined Argentine team but also the weather. It rained for most part of the match and it was the first time the Malaysians had to face such weather in Rotterdam.
But it was a much improved performance and the Malaysians just lost out in the first half when they allowed the South Americans to score the only goal of the match.
The goal came in the second minute with Pedro Ibarra scoring with a low flick from a penalty corner set piece move which had goalkeeper Khairul Nizam outwitted completely.
KHAIRUL: Outwitted by a penalty corner set piece in the second minute of the game against Argentina yesterday. Malaysia lost 0-1.
And after that, as the Malaysians regrouped to get their game together, they found the stubborn Argentine defence a tough nut to crack.
In the end despite the chances both sides had the Argentine side walked off with yet another full points and their second win which put them into the second round.
Besides the Argentines, six other teams have also confirmed their place in the second round. They are South Korea, England, Spain from Group A, Australia and Pakistan from Group C and defending champions India who are in Group D.
The other teams will confirm their berth tomorrow when the first round matches end.
Yesterday, former Junior World Cup Champions Australia were the first team to confirm their berth in the second round when they whipped Belgium 7-1 in a Group C match.
The Australians have six points from two matches. On the opening day they thrashed Chile 12-0. Pakistan with three points after their 3-1 win over Belgium, are second in this group.
Australian hitman Collin Hennessey was again in top form as he struck a hat-trick in the second, 35th and 53rd minutes to put his team into the second round. Colin has scored seven times in just two matches. He scored four goals in his team's 12-0 win over Chile.
Skipper mark Knowles scored a brace in the fifth and 38th minutes while Daniel Hotchkis and Desmond Abbot added the other two goals in the 61st and 69th minutes respectively.
In Group A England recovered from their opening day 0-1 defeat to Spain to whip Mexico 12-0 yesterday to virtually make the second round. They are likely to be joined by Spain and South Korea who also have three points after winning their opening ties.
The biggest upset of the day came in Group A where South Korea scored a 3-1 win over the tournament top seeds Spain.
The Spaniards were expected to romp home easy winners in the group but on Wednesday found the going tough against England, a game which they could only win 1-0.
Yesterday the reigning European champions found the Koreans a different kettle of fish as they were completed out-played by the Asian giants.
Jang Jong-hyun who scored five goals in the match against Mexico on Wednesday was again their main goal getter with two strikes from penalty corner set piece moves in the 28th and 52nd minutes. Their other scorer was Kim Young-jin in the 64th minute off a field attempt.
Spain scored their goal in the first half through skipper David Allegre in the 48th minute from a field attempt.
Allegre was also Spain's goal scorer in the match against England. Spain, however, will join Korea and England in the second round matches.
Spain will play Mexico in their last group match tomorrow and the North Americans can only pip them to the third spot if they win by 22 goals.
Your opinion counts.
Rate this article or enter your comments below.
|
