The Hindu : Sport : Korea has it easy against Malaysia

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Sport

Sport

Korea has it easy against Malaysia

S. Thyagarajan

Kuala Lumpur: Even an insipid, below average performance by Korea was enough to deflate the Malaysia's euphoria over Sunday's triumph against India in the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament here. The 4-0 verdict after a goal-less desultory first half gave the Koreans their first win in three matches.

Assessed from the standpoint of strategy, leave alone the style and sharpness that make the Koreans a class of their own, this was a very uncharacteristic display. That only two of the 11 penalty corners were taken advantage of conveys this fact.

Yet the Malaysian defence was chasing shadows, faltering at every turn, slithering into a whirlpool of errors. The mid-field was non-existent, as did the frontline. It was a surprise that Malaysia resort to such a degree of circumspection from the start, placing emphasis on defence.

Low key

Neither dominated in the first half. Even the usually aggressive Koreans were at a low key. The frontline sallies were infrequent and individualistic. Jong Ho Seo caught the eye more often on the flanks along with Jong Hyun Jong who converted two penalty corners. If the team was looking for a saviour to come out of the rut of wasted chances, it was Jong Hyun.

There was perceptible sparkle in the Korean patterns in the second half. The Malaysian defenders, even the seasoned Kuhen and Nor Azlan, were out of sorts. Errors mounted by the minute as Korea forced seven penalty corners in this session. True, Kumar Subramaniam, who was substitute for the injured Roslan Jamaluddin, did effect a few saves in the first half as did the defence. It looked as though the defence of penalty corners had won the day. But there was a big let down in the second half.

After Jong Hyun Jang bewildered Kumar Subramaniam with two grounders, the Koreans were in complete command. A long cross by Jong paved the way for Eun Seong Hong to deflect the ball in for the third. Before the hooter Jong Ho Seo capitalised on a skirmish in front of the goal.

Chances for Malaysia were few and far between. Early in the match Azlan Misron flunked a sitter from Md.Radzi. The home team had two penalty corners in the first, but both, fired by Kuhen, were stopped nonchalantly by Dong Sik Ko.

Myung Jun Cho who took over as the senior team coach three months ago expressed optimism that the win would motivate the team when it takes on India tomorrow.

Kiwis post win

Beating off a strong challenge, New Zealand recorded its first victory in four matches with a 2-0 win against South Africa. Phil Burrows struck midway in the first half, and then Ryan Archbald came up with a neat deflection in a penalty corner for the second goal. New Zealand has four points.

Against the background of the image shattering 1-4 verdict on Sunday against the home team, any reiteration that India must redesign its plan against Korea tomorrow will be nothing but superfluous. Romeo James, the goal-keeping coach, doubling up as manager here, wants the players forget the defeat against Malaysia as a bad dream.

Coach distressed

Coach Rajinder Singh (Jr.) is more distressed. He feels the forwards with sumptuous international experience and expertise were proving inadequate in almost every sphere. What accentuates his anguish is the reality of poor bench strength. The picture of gloom can well be imagined.

The players however would do well to look back on the last meeting against Korea at Athens. The Indians won 5-2 against the demoralised Koreans. However, India's record against it is dismal; only 19 wins in 51 encounters with 21 defeats. In the Azlan Shah, India lost four of the five matches played.

A point that needs to be stressed as emphatically as possible concerns the working of the forward line. Unless the trio of Prabhjot Singh, Deepak Thakur and Arjun Halappa comes out of the morass it has been in so far, the end result will be disastrous.

At least last time when the team finished at the bottom, inexperience of the juniors was touted as an excuse.

The mid-field and deep defence should exhibit a little more resilience. Barring Ignace Tirkey and Dilip Tirkey, every other defender is vulnerable. Devesh Chauhan had a poor match against Malaysia. That a lot depends on his regaining form goes without saying.

The results: Korea 4 (Jong Hyun Jong 2, Eun Seong Hong, Jong Ho Seo) bt Malaysia 0; New Zealand 2 (Phil Burrows, Ryan Archbald) bt South Africa 0.

Tomorrow's matches: Pakistan vs Australia (3.35 p.m.); India vs Korea (5.35 p.m. IST).

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