Note: THE TIMINGS AND GOALSCORERS OF THE MATCH ARE BASED ON OBSERVATIONS AS NO FINAL MATCH SHEET WAS PROVIDED BY THE MHF. AND DESPITE THIS BEING AN OFFICIAL TEST MATCH, THE MALAYSIAN COACH OPTED TO HOLD HIS PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE PITCH, UNLIKE PROTOCOL USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH A MATCH. THUS THERE WIL BE NO QUOTES FROM THE MALAYSIAN SIDE AND OBSERVTIONS FROM AUSTRALIA'S RIC CHARLESWORTH WILL APPEAR LATTER TONIGHT.
There was thunder before a steady downpour started in the Third Test Match between Malaysia and Australia in the coastal city of Kuantan.
But there was no thunder in terms of the overall performance of the World Cup Qualifiers bound Malaysian team as they yet again put up a Jekyll and Hyde performance in the presence of the MHF President Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who however left at halftime and was not present to witness the fightback.
Though the Malaysians showed good fighting spirit, coming back from three goals down in the first half to hold the Aussies to a 3-3 draw, the overall performance left much to be desired.
While the results, as stated by coach Tai Beng Hai are insignificant, surely he too must realise that the general performance was anything but satifactory. And at the same time Beng Hai must learn to adhere to protocol of an international match.
Tactically the Malaysians were outclassed, especially in the first twenty minutes of the match. And this is something the Aussies have capitalised on in the last two matches as we virtually have lost the matches within 20 minutes.
Chasing a game in a Test match is different then in a World Cup Qualifier and Beng Hai needs to shore up his defence which is slow on the turn. The forwardline combination of Azlan Misron, Faisal Saari and Mohd Razie, who played together late in the second half seemed to be the missing link of the past two matches as they managed to penetrate the Aussie defence with speed and flair.
Malaysia made a change in the goalkeeping department, fielding Mohd Abdul Hakim instead of Khairulnizam Ibrahim who was fielded in the two earlier matches. The first choice keeper S. Kumar was back from his Deepavali celebrations but watched from the stands.
The only other change was S. Baljit Singh returning into the 16 in place of Ahmad Kazamirul.
For the Australians, they made three changes, fielding I. Burcher, Brett Dancer and N. Burchers in goal instead of goal scoring ace Glen Turner, Glen Simpson and R. Meadows respectively.
Australia took 11 minutes to open scoring through skipper Liam De Young before C. Cirello made it 2-0 in the 13th minute converting their first penalty corner of the match.
The two hundred odd crowd were on their feet when Faisal Saari burst through the middle in nthe 23rd minute but lacked the presence of the mind to go around keeper Burcers, opting instead to shoot straight into him from the top of the semi circle.
Hopes were raised yet again when Mal;aysia were awarded a penalty corner in the 27th minute, but Mohd Amin rahim sent his flick into the stands.
Australia then scored their third goal in the 30th minute when Mohd Shukri failed in his clearance thus giving Fergus Ravanagh the simplest of tasks in slotting home.
The home teams misery was further compounded when Mohd Madzli Ikmar was sent to the sin bin in the 32nd minute by umpire Levi Stephen.
Malaysia reduced the deficit in the 38th minute when Nabil Fiqri's attept was deflected into the goal of an Aussie defenders stick.
Mohd Razie then reduced the deficit to 3-2 when he deflected a shot by Faisal Saari in the 53rd minute, and suddenly the Malaysian started believing in their ability.
And the Malaysians almost snatched an equaliser in the 57th minute when they were awarded a penalty corner. And once again Amin took the responsibility, only to flick dangerously into an onrushing Aussie defender.
The equaliser finally came through Jivan Mohan who picked up a rebound off a penalty corner in the 67th minute to keep the Test series alive.
There was thunder before a steady downpour started in the Third Test Match between Malaysia and Australia in the coastal city of Kuantan.
But there was no thunder in terms of the overall performance of the World Cup Qualifiers bound Malaysian team as they yet again put up a Jekyll and Hyde performance in the presence of the MHF President Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who however left at halftime and was not present to witness the fightback.
Though the Malaysians showed good fighting spirit, coming back from three goals down in the first half to hold the Aussies to a 3-3 draw, the overall performance left much to be desired.
While the results, as stated by coach Tai Beng Hai are insignificant, surely he too must realise that the general performance was anything but satifactory. And at the same time Beng Hai must learn to adhere to protocol of an international match.
Tactically the Malaysians were outclassed, especially in the first twenty minutes of the match. And this is something the Aussies have capitalised on in the last two matches as we virtually have lost the matches within 20 minutes.
Chasing a game in a Test match is different then in a World Cup Qualifier and Beng Hai needs to shore up his defence which is slow on the turn. The forwardline combination of Azlan Misron, Faisal Saari and Mohd Razie, who played together late in the second half seemed to be the missing link of the past two matches as they managed to penetrate the Aussie defence with speed and flair.
Malaysia made a change in the goalkeeping department, fielding Mohd Abdul Hakim instead of Khairulnizam Ibrahim who was fielded in the two earlier matches. The first choice keeper S. Kumar was back from his Deepavali celebrations but watched from the stands.
The only other change was S. Baljit Singh returning into the 16 in place of Ahmad Kazamirul.
For the Australians, they made three changes, fielding I. Burcher, Brett Dancer and N. Burchers in goal instead of goal scoring ace Glen Turner, Glen Simpson and R. Meadows respectively.
Australia took 11 minutes to open scoring through skipper Liam De Young before C. Cirello made it 2-0 in the 13th minute converting their first penalty corner of the match.
The two hundred odd crowd were on their feet when Faisal Saari burst through the middle in nthe 23rd minute but lacked the presence of the mind to go around keeper Burcers, opting instead to shoot straight into him from the top of the semi circle.
Hopes were raised yet again when Mal;aysia were awarded a penalty corner in the 27th minute, but Mohd Amin rahim sent his flick into the stands.
Australia then scored their third goal in the 30th minute when Mohd Shukri failed in his clearance thus giving Fergus Ravanagh the simplest of tasks in slotting home.
The home teams misery was further compounded when Mohd Madzli Ikmar was sent to the sin bin in the 32nd minute by umpire Levi Stephen.
Malaysia reduced the deficit in the 38th minute when Nabil Fiqri's attept was deflected into the goal of an Aussie defenders stick.
Mohd Razie then reduced the deficit to 3-2 when he deflected a shot by Faisal Saari in the 53rd minute, and suddenly the Malaysian started believing in their ability.
And the Malaysians almost snatched an equaliser in the 57th minute when they were awarded a penalty corner. And once again Amin took the responsibility, only to flick dangerously into an onrushing Aussie defender.
The equaliser finally came through Jivan Mohan who picked up a rebound off a penalty corner in the 67th minute to keep the Test series alive.
Teams
Australia
Liam De Young, Simon Orhard, C. Cirello, Mathew Butturini, David Guest, Joel Carrol, Matt Ghodes, Ian Burcher, Jonathon Charlesworth, Mathew Swann, Bret Dancer, M. Paterson, N. Burcers, K. Brown, G. Begbie, Fergus Ravanagh.
Malaysia
S. Baljit Singh, Mohd Amin Rahim, Jiwa Mohan, S. Selvaraju, Mohd Madzli Ikmar, Faisal Saari, Mohd Sharun Nabil, Mohd Shukri Mutalib, Azlan Misron, Jivan Mohan, Mohd Abdul Hakim, Mohd Razie Abdul Rahim, Kelvinder Singh, C. Baljit Singh, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Nabi Fiqri Mohd Nor.
Australia
Liam De Young, Simon Orhard, C. Cirello, Mathew Butturini, David Guest, Joel Carrol, Matt Ghodes, Ian Burcher, Jonathon Charlesworth, Mathew Swann, Bret Dancer, M. Paterson, N. Burcers, K. Brown, G. Begbie, Fergus Ravanagh.
Malaysia
S. Baljit Singh, Mohd Amin Rahim, Jiwa Mohan, S. Selvaraju, Mohd Madzli Ikmar, Faisal Saari, Mohd Sharun Nabil, Mohd Shukri Mutalib, Azlan Misron, Jivan Mohan, Mohd Abdul Hakim, Mohd Razie Abdul Rahim, Kelvinder Singh, C. Baljit Singh, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Nabi Fiqri Mohd Nor.
