U-18 Hockey Asia Cup: Malaysia score 14 goals past hapless Sri Lanka to top Group B

By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

Sengkang Hockey Stadium, Thursday, June 23, 2011 — Malaysia slammed 14 goals past a hapless Sri Lanka in both team’s final group match in the Boy’s Under-18 Hockey Asia Cup 2011. The win cements Malaysia on top of Pool B, which will see them take on Pool A runner-up Singapore in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Sri Lanka on the other hand finish bottom of Pool B without a win nor a goal scored. They will play Brunei on Saturday in a battle of the fourth-place finishers.

Right from the start, Malaysia dominated the game with slick passing and neat exchanges between their players. The ball rarely moved beyond the centre line as Malaysia kept the ball in Sri Lanka’s half with their constant attacks. It only took Malaysia six minutes to open their account with a field goal from Fahed Saifullah Shahrom Jamil (#12). By the end of the first half, the team were well in the lead with seven goals to none.

The second half was no different from the first though Malaysia’s attack backpedalled. Though Sri Lanka managed to break through several times, their players could not connect with the long passes and their attempts fizzled into nothing.

Though it took Malaysia 15 minutes to score their first goal of the second half, their goal fest continued as they scored six more goals within the next twenty minutes to bring their total tally to 14.