PETALING JAYA: Malaysia reached the final of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey event for the first time by knocking out defending champions South Korea 6-2 in Chennai on Friday (Aug 11).
It was Malaysia’s biggest victory over South Korea in 32 official matches.
Defender Najmi Farizal Jazlan was on target twice by converting penalty corners in the eighth and 20th minutes while midfielder Shello Silverius also scored two field goals in the 46th and 47th minutes to power Malaysia in the semi-finals.
The Speedy Tiger’s other goals were scored by Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal in the second minute (field goal) and Faizal Saari through a penalty corner (18th minute).
The Koreans had scored in the first minute through a field goal from Cheon Ji-woo while veteran Jang Jong-hyun converted a penalty corner in the 13th minute.
Malaysia had also beaten Korea 1-0 in the round robin match on Wednesday (Aug 9).
Malaysia had finished third in the Asian Champions Trophy in the first five editions (2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018) and did not compete in the last event in Dhaka in 2021.
The Koreans received six penalty corners but the Tigers’ goalkeeper Hafizuddin Othman did well to stop them from scoring.
He had also saved Yang Ji-hun’s penalty stroke in the 43rd minute to give Malaysia the stability.
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