Malaysia achieved a double after
their 3-1 win over Japan in the 7th Junior asia Cup at the MBMB
Stadium in Malacca, Malaysia.
Not only did they cement their
place in the Junior World Cup to be played in New Delhi in November next year
but also finished on the top of Group A and avoided a potentially difficult
semis clash against Pakistan.
Malaysia take on India in the
first semis on Thursday with Pakistan playing South Korea.
Japan needed a five goal win to
pip Malaysia for a place in the last four while Malaysia needed a draw.
But the presence of MHC President
Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and NSC Director General Dato Zolkples Embong
spurred the Malaysians to comeback from a goal down to seal their third win in
as many matches.
Japan took the lead against the
run of play as Yohei Mori sneaked in from the blind side to slot the ball past
an uprooted Hazrul Faiz Ahmad Sobri in the Malaysian goal.
Malaysia was awarded their first
penalty corner in the 9th minute but the attempt by Faisal Saari was
kept out by Japanese keeper Daisuke Kusano.
However skipper Mohd Noor Faeez
Ibrahim got it right in the second penalty corner as he sent a low flick to
beat Kusano in the 14th minute.
Faisal could have put Malaysia
2-1 ahead but his thunderous shot from the edge of the semi circle was kept out
by the bar and bounced out of play, much to the dismay of the 3,000 odd fans.
And where the Japanese keeper
failed to stop the shots of the Malaysians, the upright stood in the way as
Faeez Ibrahim’s penalty corner in the 22nd minute hit the upright
and Japan were relieved.
In the closing stages of the
first half it was all Malaysia had they had Japan pinned in defence but could
not convert the dominance into goals.
Malaysia continued where they
left off in the first half as they attacked relentlessly but none of the
attempts were on target. Even the two penalty corners awarded to Malaysia in
the 37th and 48th minutes was wasted.
Japan had the ball in the net in
the 50th minute off a penalty corner rebound by Heita Yoshihara but
it was ruled out for an infringement by umpire Fernando Gomez of Argentina.
Another penalty corner was wasted
by Malaysia before they scored their second as Fitri Saari played a neat
through ball to Mohd Syamim Mohd Yusof to sweep the ball past Kusano to give
Malaysia a 2-1 lead in the 57th minute.
And Faisal sealed
the win with a third in the 67th minute.
