Big win for hockey girls, but Nasihin rues missed chances

THE Malaysian Tigresses ran away with a 6-0 mauling of Indonesia, but coach Mohd Nasihin Nubli Ibrahim was still wearing a frown.

He was ruin the number of missed chances from penalty corners before the all-important final against Thailand today.

Malaysia could only convert three from 21 penalty corners they received against Indonesia at the hockey stadium in Morodok Techo National Sports Complex.

“The penalty corner percentage is very low. We received 21 corners and scored three. So many attempts went off target especially in the first half,” said Nasihin.

“We have to improve on this and we also have other PC variations that we will use in the final against Thailand.”

The match against Indonesia, however, was a test of patience and character as Indonesia opted to defend deep in their own D and but Malaysia still managed to score six past them, with four coming in the second half.

They did get off to a quick start though with Nurmaizatul Hanim Syafi Shiek Fuad scoring in the second minute and Nuramirah Shakirah Zulkifli scoring a penalty stroke in the ninth minute.

The game became a tight one after that until Khairunnisa Ayuni Mohd Sharuddin converted two penalty corners in the 36th and 55th minutes while Nuramirah hit her second in the 50th minute, off another penalty corner. Khairunnisa Ayuni Mohd Sharuddin scored the sixth goal through a penalty corner in the 55th minute.

“We expected Indonesia to pack their D but we reminded our players not to panic and keep pressing,” said Nasihin.

Malaysia will be looking for a double in field hockey as the men’s squad will also play Singapore in the final today.

Malaysia badly need the two golds to make amends for their failure to clinch the indoor hockey double, which saw Indonesia and Thailand victorious in the men’s and women’s events respectively.