by Hockey Supporter
10. June 2009 07:08
Malaysia defeat USA with convincing 5:2. After a 5:2-victory over USA Malaysia kept their chances for the medal round. The hosts had a furious start into the match. After 90 seconds the ball was already in the goal of the USA. Muhd Izzat Mohd Rahim shot with the Argentinean backhand directly under the crossbar in the net. The crowd exploded and kept yelling. Just a few minutes later Mohd Marhan Mohd Jalil was successful. Malaysia´s next attack could only be stopped by an US-player who saved the ball with his body on the goal line. Faizal Saari converted the following penalty stroke without any problems. USA was shocked to be already 0:3b ehind after ten minutes. But the hosts kept the pressure up and gained the 4:0, a nice deflection by Mohamad Shafiq Mohamad Zain. After the convincing lead Malaysia gave the USA a chance get themselves organised. Malaysia did not play that consequently anymore which was penalized by US-boy Nicholas Szoke who scored for his team. To the end of the first half the stadium was that crowded that a lot of spectators watched from behind the fences on the street.
The start of the second half was a bit quiet. USA had two unsuccessful penalty corners and Malaysia´s attacks got more inefficiently as well. Around ten minutes before the final whistle USA came back with the 2:4, a penalty corner goal by Jed Cunningham.
To sum up Malaysia missed to score a few more goals which probably could have helped them if the medal-round ticket matter comes down to the goal difference with Spain or Korea in Pool C.
Malaysia v USA 5:2 (4:1)
1:0 Muhd Izzat MOHD RAHIM (FG), 2:0 Mohd Marhan MOHD JALIL (FG), 3:0 FaizalSAARI (PS), 4:0 Mohamad Shafiq MOHAMED ZAIN (FG), 4:1 Nicholas SZOKE (FG), 4:2 Jed CUNNINGHAM (PC), 5:2 Faizal SAARI (PC)
