Malaysia outclass India, Australia beat South Africa: Four-nation tournament
SYDNEY, April 21: Following a two-day break, the Four-Nations Challenge resumed at the Sydney Olympic Stadium with India losing 3-0 in an upset result on dnesday.
In the scoreless first half, India failed to impress and gained only two shots on goal from nine circle possessions.
The loss of Prabhjot Singh and Viren Rasquinha to injury hampered Indias ability to penetrate Malaysias circle and create scoring chances. Malaysia woke India up with two goals in as many minutes at the start of the second half.
Jiwa Mohan deflected in a pass from outside the top of the circle and Muhammad Amin Rahim flicked in Malaysias first penalty corner on a variation to the left of the battery high to the right of Devesh Chauhan in Indias goal. India was stung into action but had no answer to Malaysias defensive play or Malaysias control of the midfield.
Len Aiyappa of India had three chances to convert penalty corners without result. Aiyappa left the ball behind on the first attempt, flicked the second two metres and the third flew wide of the right post. Malaysia had five shots on goal in the second half and only poor finishing prevented another three goals from being added to the scoreline.
Malaysia put the match away when Rahim converted Malaysias second penalty corner in the last minutes of the match to take the 3-0 victory. Rajinder Singh, Indias coach, found little positive to sat about the loss.
"I blame the whole team for todays performance. There was no-one passing correctly from goalkeeper to number 11," he said. "I am upset with this defeat but for our Olympics preparation I am very clear regarding all the players as to whom we should take and who is responsible and who can be fitted into the team.
"I did not see anyone who played an outstanding game today. I am worried about three missed chances and three penalty corners unconverted. My coaches and I will be analysing and using the information in our Olympic preparation," Rajinder said.
Later hosts Australia claimed a patchy 5-2 win over South Africa. Australia jumped out to a 2-0 lead inside the first ten minutes with goals to Michael McCann and Dean Butler and looked to have the match under control.
But South Africa responded with a zone defence and slowed the game down, forcing Australia to play in the space they dictated. The South African squeeze eventually produced two lapses of concentration by the Australian defence in two minutes late the first half that saw the teams go in at half-time level at 2-2.
South Africa's Steve Evans scored a simple goal from a free hit taken outside the circle on the left, driving between the pads of Mark Hickman in Australias goal. Ken Forbes then converted South Africas first penalty corner from Greg Nicols flick.
Australia returned in the second half with renewed determination that paid instant dividends, scoring two goals in the first two minutes of the restart with Butler and McCann again the scorers.
South Africa again slowed the game down and adopted a defensive gameplan that counterproductively saw them make no shots on goal in the second half. Australia had five second-half penalty corners without result but at least managed eleven shots on goal.
Jamie Dwyer, making his come-back after an eight-month layoff from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, capped off the match with a field goal two minutes from time, deflecting a hit by Adam Commens in at the right post. -AFP
