Korea join Malaysia in Super Fours
Title contenders Malaysia kept their hundred per cent record in the Hero Asia Cup with a 7-1 drubbing of Oman in their Pool B fixture at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium yesterday.
Having confirmed their Super 4s berth after beating holders South Korea in their second match, Malaysia made light work of Oman to impose the same margin of defeat they had inflicted on China in their opening match.
Malaysia, the second ranked side in Asia, took only ten minutes to break the resistance of Oman, who produced a good performance but eventually could not keep the momentum and stop Malaysia's goalfest.
Saari Faisal gave Malaysia the lead in the 16th minute from a penalty corner before Tajuddin Tengku doubled the lead availing a pass from Faisal two minutes later.
Saabah Shahril made it 3-0 by converting another penalty corner in the 20th minute while Tengku struck his second in the 23rd minute. Al Nofali Salmeen reduced the margin for Oman from a penalty corner in the 25th minute but Malaysia restored their four-goal advantage with a strike from Faisal three minutes before the break.
Arshad Amirol and Jazlan Najmi added two more goals in the 40th and 42nd minutes to move into the Super 4s with an all-win record.
Meanwhile, defending champions South Korea joined Malaysia in the last four with a 4-1 win over China in the second match of the day. The defeat also exacted revenge for their 2-5 loss to China in the Hockey World League semifinal round in England three months ago.
Both teams came into the match with 3 points but Korea were ahead on goal difference, so they needed only a draw to advance while China needed an outright victory to join India, Pakistan and Malaysia in the last four.
Korea took the lead in the 10th minute, with Jang Jonghyun converting a penalty corner before Du Talake brought China back scoring from a penalty corner in the 38th minute. Korea pressed hard in the third and fourth quarters to hit the board three times and dash China's hopes.
China will face hosts Bangladesh while Japan will play against Oman in the 5th-8th place deciding matches.
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