KUALA LUMPUR, 30 May 2005 — India’s campaign in the 14th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup suffered a severe blow when they were trounced 4-1 by Malaysia here yesterday.
Malaysian captain Shanmuganathan Kuhan struck in each half to guide his team to one of their biggest victories over India besides keeping the hosts in the hunt for the title.
While India continue to struggle, fellow Asian aspirants Pakistan took another step toward securing a place in the final when they blanked South Africa 2-0 under floodlights.
Nothing worked for India, who have fielded quite a new-look team for the seven-nation competition, with even their promising short corner striker Len Aiyappa letting them down.
Malaysia drew first blood with a short corner strike from Kuhan in the fifth minute but India equalized just three minutes later through a similar effort from captain Dilip Tirkey. The first half ended at 1-1. After a close tussle for supremacy in the third quarter, Malaysia took control of the proceedings with three goals in 14 minutes to seal the fate of the match in their favor. In the 50th minute striker Robert Alcantra made it 2-1 with a tennis-like passing shot that left Indian goalie Davesh Chauhan without a clue. The Malaysians were over the moon when young drag flicker Amin Rahim made it 3-1 just four minutes later off a short corner.
It was all over for India six minutes before the hooter when Kuhan had converted another short corner to make it 4-1.
Later for Pakstan, national junior team skipper Shakeel Abbasi and seasoned winger Rehan Butt scored as the greenshirts continued to impress. It was Pakistan’s third consecutive win in the seven-nation contest and keeps them on the pole position on the points’ table with a maximum of nine points, ahead of titleholders Australia. Pakistan’s hero for the match was their goalkeeper Salman Akber as he brilliantly saved a series of South African attacks early in the match. South Africa surprised Pakistan with some attacking display in the first quarter, earning three consecutive short corners. But Salman was resolute as he made some great saves, keeping the South Africans at bay.
Pakistan then produced a couple of delightful strikes within a span of six minutes through superb field attempts.
Abbasi struck a gem of a goal to give Pakistan a 1-0 advantage in the 24th minute. He made a solo run in the Kiwi danger zone, beating a couple of defenders before putting the ball in from close range. Tariq Aziz initiated a move in the 30th minute that saw Abbasi assisting Rehan Butt for Pakistan’s second goal.
Saqlain Banned for One Match
Meanwhile, Pakistan skipper Mohammad Saqlain got a one-match suspension after being found guilty of intentionally hitting a Korean player during Saturday’s game. Tournament Director Frank van’t Hek announced in an official statement that Saqlain “struck the opponent in the face with his stick after he had played the ball” and is suspended for one match.
