Hockey boys down China to secure semis spot at Under-18 Asia Cup

Picking up pace: Daniel Hakeem Abdullah (right) and Dheeressh Gunaseelan (centre) celebrate their 3-0 win over China at the Under-18 Asia Cup in Japan. — MHC

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s hockey boys shook off a sluggish start to defeat China 3-0 in their final Group B match to secure a spot in the semi-finals of the Under-18 Asia Cup.

With both sides needing a win to advance, Malaysia rose to the occasion in Kakamigahara, Japan, by delivering a composed second-half performance to claim the crucial win yesterday.

After a scoreless first half, captain Dheeressh Gunaseelan broke the deadlock in the 41st minute by converting a penalty corner.

Three minutes later, Ahmad Idham Fikri extended the lead with a field goal, before Harieq Hadlef Mohd Fariq sealed the win in the 57th with another penalty corner conversion.

Head coach Harfizi Baharom was relieved for the team to finish top two in the group following their rough start to the campaign, where they suffered a 4-2 loss to Bangladesh in their opening fixture on Saturday.

Malaysia then bounced back to get their first win in the tournament by defeating Pakistan 3-2 on Sunday.

“We’re extremely thankful for the win and for the team to have gotten themselves into the semi-finals,” said Harfizi.

“The players were motivated because they knew only a win would see us through to the semi-finals.

“They knew their responsibilities and I’m thankful that they did it. It’s the result of all their hard work and motivation.”

Harfizi admitted that the team needed to pick up the pace during the match, but managed to find their rhythm in the second half.

“We didn’t really play our game in the first half. We tried to correct it during half time and that gave us the opportunity to get three goals in the second half,” he said.

Malaysia, who finished third at last year’s edition in China, will take on either defending champions Japan or India on Friday for a spot in the final.

Meanwhile, the girls’ team saw their hopes of making the semi-finals dashed after they fell 1-0 to South Korea.

The result sees them finishing their group stage in third place with just one win, and will face Bangladesh or Taiwan for fifth place tomorrow.