For starters let me just state that in my earlier post I had to rely on SMS from friends to get the updated results for the Malaysia v Pakistan match. Thus there were some errors with regards to the time the goals were scored.
But one thing that readers have to understand is that this blog tries its level best to provide you information on the Malaysian hockey scenario and our cause is not helped by the silent treatment beig accorded to us by some officials of the MHF and in the various national teams as well as the multi million 1 MAS Program.
So with limited information ( imagine we are not even given the contact information of the Malaysian team in Ordos) until after the first match against Pakistan, we still try our best to bring you the latest information.
Now if only MHF or their so called officials could do just one quarter of what we do at the blog - that is to provide information to the scores of hockey fans in the country, then our task will be made much easier. But alas the MHF website has cobwebs on it for it has not even updated the team list of the various national teams and what more news reports. As for the 1 MAS, go ask the highly paid officials who they are paying not to update it.
And we have team officials in Ordos who have given this blog the cold shoulder. No qualms about that, you only need the mainstream media while blogs like mine are insignificant to you. But was it not a blog that put you into your current positions?
As for AHF website, go ask those responsible, those who warm the chairs in their air conditioned offices.
Now read on while we try to make sense of whats happening at Ordos, having got the information from some kind hearted soul.
Malaysia lost 2-3 to Pakistan in their opening match of the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy at Ordos in China this evening.
Opting to register only one goalkeeper in the 16 players for the match, the starting XI of Malaysia read as follows, S. Kumar, Mohd Amin Rahim, Izwan Firdaus, Mohd Madzli Ikmar, Faizal Saari, Nabil Fiqri Mohd Nor, Mohd Razie Abd Rahim, Mohd Shukri Mutalib, Baljit Singh and Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin.
Those who were left out of the 16 were Mohd Fitri Saari and keeper Roslan Jamauddin.
And Malaysia were given a dream start when Mohd Amin Rahim converted a penalty stroke in the 4th minute.
But Pakistan were on level terms in the 22nd minute when Abdul Haseem Khan scored. And the green shirts surged ahead 2-1 in the 32nd minute through a penalty corner converted by skipper Muhammad Imran.
Malaysia however went into the halftime break on level terms as debutant Ahmad Farid Ahamad Fuzi scored in the 34th minute. On two occasions Malaysia played with a man down as Baljit Singh (41st minute) and Faizal Saari (51st minute) were shown the green card.
Shakeel Abasi broke the hearts of the Malaysians when he coolly converted a penalty stroke in the 6rd minute after a bad tackle by Muhammad Razie Abdul Rahim in the semi circle to give the Asian Games winners a winning start.
In an earlier match, South Korea defeated Japan 3-2.
Korea opened scoring in the 6th minute via Jang Jong Hyun off a penalty corner. But Japan struck in the 8th minute through Tanaka Kenta to draw level.
Goals by Jang (18th minute) and Kang Moon Kweon (58th minute) gave Korea a 3-1 lead. And although Japan reduced the deficit two minutes from time through skipper Kawakami Kei, the Japanese ran out of time to salvage anything from the match.
