South Korea finally won its first victory in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (PSAS) 2024, after defeating Canada 1-0 in the third action of the tournament in Ipoh, today.
The lone goal was scored by Oh Seyong through a field goal in the 13th minute but for the start of the second quarter, the match was stopped for a moment due to heavy rain for 10 minutes.
The result allowed Min Taeseok’s squad to grab the first three points after losing the first two games to Japan 1-2 and being beaten by Pakistan 4-0.
For the record, the last meeting between the two teams was at the 2022 Cup of Nations in Potchefstroom, South Africa and the victory was in favor of South Korea 6-2.
Of the 12 meetings between the two teams, South Korea have won nine since the 1988 Seoul Olympics while the other three have ended in draws.
The match between the two teams was also balanced as each created chances with Canada getting three penalty corners while South Korea only got one.
SOUTH KOREA: MIN TAESEOK (COACH)
“A good win for the young players in this tournament. Overall there are still a lot of weaknesses that need to be improved but that is normal for a team that has just been formed and is on average young players.”
This team will get better it just takes time, the young players need more experience at international level to be good. That’s what we have to do.
MAN OF THE MATCH: OH SEYONG
“To be as good as a senior player like Jang Jong-hyun, I and other players need time and more international matches”.
CANADA : PATRICK TSHUTSHANI (COACH)
“I’m not happy with the attitude of the players for conceding an early goal and not wanting to attack in search of a goal even when there is a chance to do so.”
True we are a new team and still learning but what they did today did not please me. They should have been more eager to play, we got three penalty corners but failed to convert them.”
Pakistan had to wait until the last minute of the match to ensure they did not lose points when they came back to tie Japan 1-1 in the third action of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, today.
The result saw the unbeaten record maintained by both teams in the 30th edition of the PSAS competition.
The first half saw Yoshihiro Anai’s worried squad put constant pressure on Pakistan, with four penalty corners awarded to Japan in the second quarter but failed to convert into goals.
Continuing in the second half, Japan’s continued efforts to find an early goal arrived in the 33rd minute through a powerful push by Ken Nagayoshi who converted a penalty corner.
Fierce action continued to be displayed by both teams when they attacked each other after that, however, failed to realize any goals.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Pakistan almost got a penalty stroke but after referring to the video, the match umpire, Ben Grant overturned his first decision.
Until, Pakistan got a fourth penalty corner in the 58th minute which was completed by Rana Waheed Ashraf to ensure his team won a valuable point.
For the record, the first international meeting between the two teams saw Pakistan thrash Japan 10-0 at the Rome Olympics.
The team has also played 28 times since 1960 with 13 wins in favor of Pakistan while eight for Japan and the rest ending in a draw.
JAPAN: YOSUKE MATSUMURA (COACH)
“It was a very intense match and we kept putting pressure on Pakistan’s defense and should have scored more goals.
“If based on the pattern of the game we should be the winner. Of course, Pakistan are a good team, they have highly skilled players and they have a penalty corner style of their own.”
MAN OF THE MATCH: KEN NAGAYOSHI (JAPAN)
“I will continue to maintain my usual performance and there will be no injuries. Of course I am always fully prepared to play against Malaysia tomorrow.
PAKISTAN: ROELANT OLTMANS (COACH)
“We didn’t play like Pakistan used to play and we were lucky to get back into the rhythm in the third and fourth quarter and get a goal.
“Before this we scored five goals in the first game and four goals in the second action. I also wonder about the stroke penalty we should have got.
“I’m not sure what happened and the result didn’t go in our favor but it’s over and we have to focus on the next game.”
Malaysia gave another dazzling performance as the Speedy Tigers shackled New Zealand 6-4 to celebrate a sensational victory in this 30th edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh tonight.
The Speedy Tigers, who had lost to Pakistan 4-5, and defeated Canada 6-2, can justifiably be proud of this performance. Malaysia goes third in the table standings with six points – three behind Pakistan and Japan.
Paris Olympics-bound New Zealand, the world No 10 and highest ranked team in the SAS Cup, received an early ‘cold bath’ treatment from the defending champions in a high-audience turnout pool match.
They play high-riding Japan tomorrow (Wednesday) and the South Koreans on Friday.
National team head coach Sarjit Singh said the four early goals helped the put New Zealand under a lot of pressure in the first half.
“However, the players lost focus in the second quarter and this allowed the Kiwis to come back strong and score two goals. We will need to control the match and not put ourselves under pressure after taking the lead”
“I am happy at the way the players played this match and kept moving on the attacking mode. Goalkeeper Hafizuddin Othman (named Man of the Match} also played a great game. He made two saves that changed the game,” added Sarjit.
Moving forward tomorrow’s match against Japan, he added that the team need to recuperate after playing a tough match against New Zealand in the short time before tomorrow’s match and plan their strategy.
“We have many forwards who are playing well. Faizal is in a different league and exceptional, Azrai is having his moments, while Azimuddin and Akhimullah will be better players. Give them the space and room to grow. Then, there are many others also in the cart who can score,” he said.“Japan is a good team and they have shown their brand of hockey. We respect them and our game plan is to play a good match and enjoy. There is no pressure.”
Japanese head coach, Yoshihiro Anai, said he is expecting a tough match against the Speedy Tigers, as they have strong fan support base and the players are fast.
“Malaysia is fast and skilful. We have played many times before and now we are building this team. Today’s match against Pakistan was fast and tough. And we can expect the same energy from the Malaysians,” he said.
Ken Nagayoshi who scored Japan’s goal in the 1-1 draw against Pakistan, said he will continue to play hard for Japan in every match, including against Malaysia.
Tonight, having successfully built their attacking strategy, the Malaysians went on a goal-scoring spree and pounded four goals past the Kiwis in the first quarter, much to the joy of home fans.
Faizal Saari, Malaysia’s most sensational forward, opened the goal-scoring acts by scoring his 142nd goal in his 175th appearance for the Speedy Tigers on the international stage in the second minute via a field goal.
The host added three more goals within a space of 10 minutes. New-found goal-scoring sensation Mohamed Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal knocked in the second from a penalty corner (5th minute).
Muhamad Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin, a 19-year-old pre-university student at Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School in Johor, kept the flames burning with the third goal (6th) while Azrai returned to further punished the Black Sticks by netting his second and Malaysia’s fourth from a field goal.
Though the Speedy Tigers dominated the first quarter, they didn’t have things going all their own way. New Zealand bounced back as quickly as they went down to close the gap at 4-2 through Jake Smith’s field goal effort (19th) and Jonty Elmes’ penalty stroke in the 28th minute.
The Kiwis were also awarded a second penalty stroke by Pakistani umpire Yaser Khurshid in the 34th minute. Jonty’s flick, however, was saved by goalkeeper Hafizuddin.
And as the clock ticked away in the fourth quarter, Muhajir Abdul Rauf gathered all his strength and picked the ball following Azrai pass in the 52nd minute, and placed it past goalkeeper Dominic Dixon as the host shot 5-2 ahead.
The Kiwis, who then resorted to power play in the last five minutes, where Scott Cosslett, scored the third goal off a penalty corner (58th) to make it 5-3.
Their power play risk back fired when Azrai scored his third goal as the host led 6-3, before Issac Houlbrooke converted a penalty corner (58th) to close the night at 6-4 in favour of Speedy Tigers.
by Asia Hockey
