KARACHI, 29 April 2004 — Skipper Takuya Kodama converted a second half short corner to steer Japan to a narrow 1-0 win over Bangladesh, helping the last time’s semifinalists to finish fifth in the Junior Asia Cup here.
Japan went through some tense moments in the match as the unfancied Bangladeshis kept them at bay for the majority of the game but the solitary Kodama strike in the 47th minute was enough to give the Japanese a consolation victory in the 5-6 position playoff.
China claimed seventh position with two first half goals that came in quick succession against Singapore in the classification game. China drew first blood in the match going 1-0 up in the 25th minute with a field goal by Guo Zhongqiang. Liu Yixian nailed China’s second goal in the very next minute to give them a winning lead.
Singapore had their chances of making a comeback in the game especially in the final minutes when Chinese skipper Fangming Luo was sent off for a 64th minute foul but failed to avail them.
Sri Lanka took the wooden spoon going down fighting 2-3 to Chinese Taipei in the 9-10 place match.
The Sri Lankans, coached by Pakistan’s former international Ghulam Ghous, led 2-1 till the 42nd minute but Chinese Taipei showed better fitness in the last quarter of the game to avoid the embarrassment of finishing last in the ten-nation tournament.
Taipei were the first to score through Do-Hsing Huang in the fifth minute but Sri Lanka equalized when skipper H.S Hettirachchi struck just five minutes later. Both teams were tied at 1-1 at lemon-time.
D.J Hettarachchi took Sri Lanka a goal ahead in the 42nd minute but Taipei were quick to level scores with a short corner strike by Yai-Weh Shih in the very next minute. Huang then scored the winner, his second goal in the match, ten minutes from the final whistle.
Pakistan and India will play in the final today. Sultan Azlan Shah, President of the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), will be the chief guest. The match will be preceded by the playoff for the third position between defending champions Korea and Malaysia. The winners will join Pakistan and India as qualifiers for the 2005 Junior World Cup to be held in Amstelveen.
