24 Aug Asian Games 2018: Malaysia Step Closer To A Semi Final Place

Malaysia moved closer to a semi-final place when they defeated Bangladesh 7-0 in their third Group B match at the GBK Hockey Stadium. It was their third win in as many matches and they top the group.

Their next opponent will be Pakistan on Sunday.

Malaysian skipper Mohamad Shukri Mutalib was pleased that the team managed to get the three points and win with relative ease.

“The important thing is to get the points. We also did not want to struggle. There were plenty of chances and we did miss some easy ones. Our penalty corner was also not that effective as the Bangladesh team defended well.

“Overall it was a good show and we were not under threat at all.

“We will now focus on the next game against Pakistan and ensure we play better and more cohesively,” he said.

Malaysian goalkeeper S. Kumar reached his 300th cap for the country and joined a small band of players in that category which includes the likes of S. Kuhan, Nor Saiful Zaini and Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi. He was presented with a memento by the MHC President Dato Sri Subahan Kamal after the match.

Kumar, 38, first made his debut for Malaysian in 1999 at the Brunei SEA Games.

Malaysia dominated the first quarter, but their finishing was woefully off target. The Bangladesh team relied heavily on the counter attacks but had few chances in front of goal.

The quarter ended scorelessly.

There was better attack in the second quarter. The Malaysians gained two penalty corners in succession in the 16th and 17^th minutes.

The second one proved fruitful with Muhammad Razie Abd Rahim scoring his seventh goal on the tournament.

The Malaysians earned their fifth penalty corner of the match in the 22^nd minute and once again Razie was on target with his drag flick.

The half ended with Malaysians slotting in their third goal. Youngster Muhammad Amirol Aideed Mohd Arshad scored a field goal in the 28th minute as the first half ended with the Malaysians fully in control.

A minute into the second half the Malaysians struck again.  This time Faizal Saari scored with a field attempt.

Then in the 37^th minute midfielder Joel van Huizen scored the fifth goal. It was his first goal of the tournament.

Nabil Fiqri Bin Mohd Noor is another player who scored for the first time in the tournament. Malaysia earned a penalty stroke in the 43^rdminute and the 31-year-old duly converted the effort.

Muhammad Firhan Ashari scored the final goal in the 58^th minute for a seven-goal win.