A heart-breaking day for the Malaysian hockey team. So close to reaching the final but was denied by a last minute goal by the Japanese.
Malaysia enter the game with only one intention - a win, at whatever cost. At one point, Malaysia were leading 3-1 but just before half-time, Japan managed to score a goal to make it 3-2.
A strike from Kenichi KATAYAMA two minutes from time gave Japan the point that they needed to reach the final of the Olympic Qualifier in Kakamigahara.
The first half was a wonderful spectacle of attacking hockey, with both teams knowing that they their Olympic dreams would be over if they did not get the required result. Malaysia scored first, when Boon Huat CHUA deflected a penalty corner high into the net, only for Japan to equalise through an Akira ITO field goal. Jiwa MOHAN re-established the lead for Malaysia with a penalty stroke before a goalmouth scramble was finished off by K. S. MAKBUL SINGH to gave Malaysia a 3-1 lead. Japan – boosted by a large and passionate home crowd – pulled a goal back in the final minute of the half, with Tomonori ONO deflecting a ball from the left into the net.
Despite there being five goals in the opening period, the match became a tight and tense contest in the second half. Then, with four minutes left to play, Kenichi KATAYAMA won a penalty corner for Japan, but Kumar SUBRAMANIAM pulled off a terrific save from the drag flick of Takahiko YAMABORI when a goal looked to be a certainty. Japan won another penalty corner with two minutes left to play, and it was this set play that sparked the most controversial moment of the tournament. Japan made a mess of the corner, but eventually the ball found its way back into the danger area, and Kenichi KATAYAMA forced the ball over the line. Umpires Murray Grime and Hamish JAMSON conferred, and the goal was given, much to the disappointment of the Malaysia players who felt that there had been an infringement. The goal proved to be the killer blow, and the result gives Japan the chance to play Germany in tomorrow’s final.
Result of matches:
Poland 0-5 Germany
Japan 3-3 Malaysia
Switzerland 4-0 Italy
source: worldhockey.org
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