Hockey: Malaysia stage fightback but Germany hold on for win

By AFTAR SINGH

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia went down fighting 2-3 to world champions Germany in the Champions Trophy at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil here last night.

Malaysia trailed 0-3 before staging a remarkable fightback to reduce the deficit.


Fighting back: Malaysia’s S. Selvaraju celebrates after scoring against Germany during their Champions Trophy match at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday. Malaysia lost 2-3. – AZHAR MAHFOF / The Star
Florian Keller scored a brace in the 25th and 35th minutes before Matthias Witthaus added the third a minute into the second-half.

Malaysia replied through S. Selvaraju in the 54th minute before Ismail Abu added the second in the 62nd minute.

It was national team’s fifth defeat in the tournament. They only have one point from six matches.

Germany continued their excellent run in the tournament by chalking up their fifth win to qualify for the final.

Yesterday’s match would have allowed both teams to size up each other as they will be meeting again in the Olympic qualifiers in Japan next April.

The winner of the qualifiers will earn a place in the Beijing Olympics in August.

Malaysia last played against Germany in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup tournament in Ipoh three years ago and lost 2-4.

Yesterday, Malaysia played well in the first-half and had two chances but were let down by poor finishing.

Germany, powered by 11 World Cup players, shot into the lead off their first penalty corner in the 25th minute through Keller.

Germany kept up the pressure and earned another penalty corner in the last minute of the first-half and Keller was on target again.

Hardly a minute into the second-half and Germany were 3-0 up, thanks to a Witthaus attempt from close range.

The Germans then slowed down the game and Malaysia took advantage to knock in two goals in eight minutes.

First Selvaraju collected a through pass from Azlan Misron to slam it into the goal in the 54th minute before Ismail scored from close range off a free hit by Engku Abdul Malik eight minutes later.

In an earlier match, Pakistan fought back from 1-3 down to draw 3-3 with Asian Games champions South Korea.

The Koreans remain in second spot with 11 points from six matches and need to beat Britain in their last match on Saturday to reach the final.