LAUSANNE (SWITZERLAND), JUNT 20 The first day of a new stage of the Nations Cup did not disappoint as the ranking games added an extra element of risk and reward for each team. Dramatic finishes, huge celebrations and impressive goalscoring sent the tournament into tomorrow’s final games on an exciting high, reports FIH. Wales and Japan opened the day’s play in the 5th-8th place play-offs and, not for the first time in the competition, Wales took a strong lead. Unlike the previous games, however, they held onto their advantage to pick up their first win of the tournament and progress to the 5th/6th place play-off. Japan will head into the 7th/8th place play-off to face South Africa, both sides hoping that first win will help them avoid a last-placed finish. Hosts Malaysia bounced back from Wednesday’s disappointment to beat South Africa 4-2 in a convincing performance that puts them into a final game against Wales to battle for 5th place. Pakistan roared back against France in the first semi-final, causing a real upset in beating Les Bleus 3-2 on penalties. Led by the mercurial creative powers of Waheeb Ashraf Rana, Pakistan will be playing for a spot in the FIH Men’s Pro League against New Zealand in the final. The Blacksticks won a penalty shootout of their own, beating Korea despite a strong comeback thanks to the impressive Korean penalty corner battery. The 3rd/4th place play-off will be a repeat of the incredible Day 1 game that finished 6-5 between France and Korea. Wales 6-4 Japan Both sides began the 5th-8th place play-offs searching for their first win. Wales’s Fred Newbold opened the scoring on his reverse in the ninth minute, smartly beating Kisho Kuroda at his near post. Japan responded four minutes into the second quarter with a penalty corner excellently guided between ‘keeper and left-post defender by a diving Ryoma Ooka. Less than a minute later, however, and Wales had a deflection of their own after Joylon Morgan got a stick to Gareth Furlong’s penetrating slap to re-establish the Welsh lead. As the first-half neared its close, Japan won another penalty corner, one that was mis-trapped, passed back and across the circle before Koji Yamasaki volleyed a forehand hit across goal to equalise going into half-time.
Two minutes into the second half and the goals started to flow even more freely. Kazumasa Matsumoto’s rifled shot clattered against the backboard to give Japan a lead and, just a few possessions later, Sam Welsh knocked in another Welsh goal to make it 3-3. The goal, coming from Jack Pritchard’s explosive spinning assist, lifted Wales to find the lead again, this time Morgan slicing a reverse bunt over the ‘keeper. Koji Yamasaki was shown a yellow card with a minute left in the third quarter and Wales capitalised, Joylon Morgan getting a bit of fortune for his hat-trick goal as his cross-goal slap pinballed its way over the goalline. The final quarter saw a Gareth Furlong drag-flick and a Kosei Kawabe consolation cancel each other out to leave the score 6-4 and send Wales through to the 5th-6th place play-off with their first win of the tournament. Joylon Morgan’s hat-trick earned him Player of the Match and he celebrated his side’s progression: “[We’re] pretty happy, it was a tough game – we knew Japan were a good team. The most important thing was just to get through, it’s our first win of the tournament so [we’re] very happy.” Malaysia 4-2 South Africa After a gut-wrenching failure to qualify for Malaysia, the host nation came into the game with work to do and fans to recompense. They struck first with a minute left in the first quarter, as Syed Cholan slugged a rapid drag-flick against the backboard from Malaysia’s third penalty corner. Into the second quarter, again with a minute until the end of the period, South Africa quickly turned over a Malaysian counter-attack and sent the ball deep into the hosts’ half. A defensive fumble in the circle fell to Angelo Walstroom who confidently equalised.
After gifting an equalising goal to the South Africans, Malaysia took charge of the game in the third quarter as Shafiq Hassan wrestled in a chance created by the scything carry of Chohan and good skill from Abu Kamal Azrai. Hassan created the next one himself, cutting infield and shooting before Akhimullah Anuar bumbled the ball over the line to extend the hosts’ lead. South Africa threatened another comeback in the final quarter as Carlon Mentoor’s firm slap found the bottom corner but Fitri Saari’s ended the scrappy play in the circle by restoring Malaysia’s two-goal lead. South Africa will have to wait for their first win of the tournament but will hope to get it tomorrow against Japan. Player of the Match went to Goalkeeper Hafizzudin Othman for his solid shot-stopping. After receiving the award, he said: “Today [was a] tough match. We worked hard to play for fifth and sixth place.” France 3 (2) - 3 (3) Pakistan France, after a strong showing in the pool stages, faced Pakistan in the first semi-final and the most exciting game of the day. The first quarter remained goalless despite five penalty corners being exchanged, one for Pakistan, four for France. In the second quarter, Xavier Esmenjaud threw himself forward with an outstretched stick to put Les Bleus in the lead, touching in a ball across goal. Early in the second half, France doubled their lead, as the inevitable Victor Charlet converted France’s fifth penalty corner to give France a real boost towards the final. Pakistan roared back into the game, however, overturning France the dominance and control as Waheed Ashraf Rana set up Afraz’s slap shot before both erupted into celebrations that marked the shift in momentum. Sufyan Khan joined the party, letting fly an unsaveable drag-flick into the top left corner and finding parity with the French. A minute later, Muhammad Hammadudin fantastically deflected in Rana’s flat reverse hit to go 3-2 up. Victor Charlet, of course, stepped up with two minutes to play for the French, as his deflected flick equalised with two minutes to go. Pakistan went on to win the penalty shootout using just four of their five attempts as France failed to convert chances even after they had wrongfooted the ‘keeper. Pakistan head to their second Nations Cup final in as many years looking to go one better than they did last year. After Waheeb Ashraf Rana’s creativity and winning penalty named him Player of the Match, he said: “We were ready for this win for a long time. 110 percent effort from the boys’ side Everything we have – we gave everything. [We are] thankful to Allah almighty for helping us. We are really proud of the team and looking forward to the finals now.” New Zealand 2 (4) - 2 (2) Korea The final game of the day began with two stunning goals, both from New Zealand. At the end of a relatively subdued first quarter, Scott Boyde’s lasered slap was deflected in on the turn by Jonty Elmes, who redirected the ball into the bottom right corner whilst wrongfooting Kim Jaehan in goal. Dylan Thomas one-upped his teammate however, dancing in from the sideline to turn a relatively innocuous possession into one of the goals of the tournament. After swiftly beating three Korean defenders, he sent a flick up into the roof of the net to double the Blackstick lead.
From then, as Pakistan had in the game before, Korea chipped away at their opponents 2-0 lead. First to make a dent was drag-flicker Lim Dohyun who manufactured the angle needed to beat Dominic Dixon past his helpless right foot from Korea’s second penalty corner. Yang Jihun piled in on the act, rocketing his third quarter drag-flick into the bottom right and pulling scores level. The momentum flitted back and forth between the two teams until the final whistle took the sides to another penalty shootout. Kim Jaehan made a good save to deny the first Blackstick penalty but after Korea failed to convert their first two, New Zealand always had the upper hand to win the shootout and make it to the final. Korea, after a fantastic tournament already, will face France in the 3rd/4th place play-off. After his wonder-goal, Dylan Thomas was awarded Player of the Match and showed his excitement at making it through: “Absolutely stoked to get into the final. It was a tough game, it’s always a 50/50 when it goes into a shootout but the boys did really well to get us over the line tonight.” National Hockey Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Result: Match 1 Wales 6-4 Japan Player of the Match: Joylon Morgan (WAL) Umpires: Wanri Venter (RSA), Nick Saunders (NZL), Ben Grant (NZL) (Video) Match 2 Malaysia 4-2 South Africa Player of the Match: Hafizzudin Othman (MAS) Umpires: Wanri Venter (RSA), Ben Grant (NZL), Nick Saunders (NZL) (Video) Match 3 France 3 (2) - 3 (3) Pakistan Player of the Match: Waheed Ashraf Rana (PAK) Umpires: Ben Grant (NZL), Timothy Sheahan (AUS), Ridge Bair (USA) (Video) Match 4 New Zealand 2 (4) - 2 (2) Korea Player of the Match: Dylan Thomas (NZL) Umpires: Peter Kabaso (KEN), Liu Xiaoying (CHN), Ridge Bair (USA) (Video). ====balbirsingh227@gmail.com
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