Hockey World Cup: Malaysia come from behind twice for hard-earned win against Chile
SINAR DAILY REPORTER16 Jan 2023 07:02pm
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Coach Arul Selvaraj's men had to come from behind twice against the world number 23 ranked Chileans who for much of the first two quarters looked like the more likely winners.
A cautious start from both ends saw the first quarter ending scoreless, before Chile took the lead via a Juan Amoroso penalty corner conversion in the 19th minute, after Malaysia wasted an opportunity from a penalty corner of their own just minutes earlier.
As much as a surprise it was for Malaysia, their forays forward were disappointed by a blunt frontline which failed to unlock the Chilean defense and required captain Razi Rahim to barely scrape home an equaliser after Malaysia were awarded a penalty stroke in the 25th minute.
The Chileans continued to look the more likely to score against world number 11 ranked Malaysia and on the stroke of half-time, Martin Rodriguez latched on to a long pass into Malaysia's final third to strike a field goal past Malaysian goalkeeper Hafizuddin Othman in the 29th minute.
Their pre-match plans in tatters and Malaysia now under severe pressure, coach Arul Selvaraj's half-time talk must have done the trick as Malaysia came out in the third quarter looking tidier in defence and more purposeful in attack.
Malaysia toiled in attack, earning nine penalty corners without a goal to show, but in a foray into the Chilean semi-circle in the 40th minute, Mohamad Ashran Hamsani struck home a field goal for the equaliser, but Malaysia kept up the pressure right from the restart and earned another penalty corner in the 41st minute.
With hitter Razie's strike initially blockd, Norsyafiq hammered home the rebound to finally give Malaysia the lead, which the proved to be the winning goal after Malaysia absorbed attack after attack by a relentless Chile, to end the fourth quarter unscathed and with a valuable three points in the bag.
The win meant Malaysia drew level with New Zealand on three points momentarily, but would remain in third in Pool C with an inferior goal difference, regardless of the result of the match between New Zealand and the Netherlands who had beaten Malaysia 4-0 on Saturday.
Arul said after the match that it was a valuable win for the team, which meant they were still in the running for a quarterfinals spot.
"It is an important win for us. Of course, our focus on the game which we learned after the loss to the Netherlands was executed by the team. The team displayed the desire to fight and we came back from twice being behind to secure the win. They also showed discipline in defence and overall determination," said Arul.
"Of course, the missed penalty corners are and issue which we have to address and we will review the match and see where we need to improve in terms of tactics ahead of the final group match against New Zealand on Wednesday," he added.
The competition format sees the pool winners progress automatically into the quarterfinals, while the second and third placed teams will go through play-offs against second and third placed teams from Pool D for a slot in the quarter finals. A defeat to Chile today, would have condemned Malaysia to bottom of the pool and out of the running.
