Malaysia advanced to the Asia Cup field hockey semi-finals by virtually dumping three-time champions Pakistan out of contention with a 3-3 draw here on Wednesday. Malaysia made a remarkable recovery after being 3-0 down at half time to finish their league engagements with 10 points from four matches. Pakistan ended with seven points from four games.
Japan, with six points from three outings, are better-placed to make it to the last-four from five-team Group A as they take on a winless Singapore in their last match on Thursday. Pakistan will be out of the semi-finals for the first time of this tournament if Japan win against Singapore. Megat Azrafiq restored parity for Malaysia when he converted a penalty-stroke in the 69th minute to help his team maintain their unbeaten run in league matches.
"I think the boys were really motivated to play this tournament. Our aim was to make it to the semi-finals. We now have a good team which is difficult to beat," said Malaysian coach Sarjit Singh. "We were a bit slow in the first half, but the boys did really well in the second session as they made the most of their chances."
Pakistan started with a flourish as Shakeel Abbasi struck twice and Akhtar Ali once in the first half to raise visions of a victory before losing their advantage in the second. Tajuddin Ahmad led the Malaysian rally with two goals in the space of 14 minutes before Azrafiq made it 3-3 in the closing stages.
Pakistan coach Islahuddin Siddiqui blamed the umpiring. "This is not the way to supervise a match in an important tournament. The penalty-stroke in the closing stages was too harsh a decision," he said. China sustained their hopes of advancing to the semi-finals with a thrilling 3-3 draw against South Korea, thanks to Luo Fang Ming who converted a penalty-corner in the closing minute.
India lead the six-team Group B with 12 points from four matches, followed by 2006 Doha Asian Games winners South Korea (7/4), China (7/4), Bangladesh (6/4), Sri Lanka (3/4) and Thailand (0/4).
South Korea take on Bangladesh in their last league game on Thursday, while China meet Sri Lanka. China dominated in the initial stages and rattled the South Koreans when Meng Lizhi found the mark off a Li Wei cross from right in the 11th minute. The advantage was soon neutralised when Oh Dae Keun beat Chinese goalkeeper with an angular placement from close off a cross from Kim Byung Hoon.
South Korea looked on course for victory when Jang Jong Hyun and Kang Seong Jung struck in quick succession midway through the second half before being surprised by the Chinese fightback. China scored their last two goals in the closing 11 minutes through Li Wei and Ming to keep alive their hopes.
"I am not fully satisfied with the final result, but I am happy we tried to fight back. South Korea are better placed than us on goal-difference, but we'll try to win by a big margin on Thursday," said Chinese coach Kim Sang Ryul. Earlier, Sri Lanka posted their first win in four matches when they thrashed Thailand 9-1 in a contest between out-of-contention sides.
Anju Hewage, Sasanka Hettiarachchi and M. M. Gazalli each scored two goals for Sri Lanka, while Anura Karunarathne, Pradeep Priyashantha and Dammika Abeyrathne one apiece. Sadkorn Wimuttan scored winless Thailand's first goal in four matches.