The Speedy Tigers’ hopes of redeeming their pride in the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy were shattered when Japan came back from a 3-4 deficit to hold the Malaysians to a 4-4 draw in regulation time, and then seized a 4-2 victory in a penalty shootout in the 5-6th placed match.
Japan’s journey in this eighth edition of the championship ended in fifth spot. Their best was silver medals in 2013 and 2021, and a bronze in 2023. The Malaysians, who lost to India in the 2023 final, and also claimed the bronze medal five times, lay at the bottom of the six-team tourney.
Meanwhile, China and India advanced to Tuesday’s (Sept 17) final. The Chinese defeated three-time champion Pakistan 2-0 in a penalty shootout in the semi-finals after both teams were held to a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
The Pakistanis, riding high in confidence, registered a 5-1 win over China in a round-robin match on Sept 12. China’s best performance in the ACT since its inaugural in 2011 was finishing fourth (2012 and 2013), fifth (2016) and sixth (2011 and 2023).
Defending champion India, aiming for their fifth ACT title, edged South Korea 4-1 in the second semi-finals with penalty corner goals from Harmanpreet Singh (19th, 45th), Uttam Singh (13th, FG), and Jarmanpreet Singh (32th, FG)).
Drag-flick specialist Jihun Yang scored for Korea in the 33rd minute. The Koreans and Pakistanis will play for the bronze medal tomorrow.
As far as the Malaysians are concerned, it was not the result that the Speedy Tigers envisaged against the Japanese while the nation celebrated Malaysia Day today at the Moqi Training Base in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, China.
Speedy Tigers head coach Sarjit Singh, said: “It is disappointing to end our campaign here on a losing note. We had several chances to score but were not clinical in the ‘D’. Instead, we allowed Japan to score soft goals to make a comeback.”
“This happened again! We held 2-1, 3-2 and 4-3 leads only to see Japan score simple goals that destroyed our hopes of winning today.”
He added that he did not anticipate the match going into a penalty shootout as he was confident the Speedy Tigers would wrap up the game with a win in regulation time.
There were matches that we played well, except against India (1-8) and China (2-4). We have identified several areas that the players will need to improve. Another aspect that the team need to do is learn to hold on to their leads especially in the last five minutes of regulation time. We have been conceding goals in the last five minutes
Japan went ahead in the third minute when Kazumasa Matsumoto profited from a field goal but Mohamad Akhimullah Anuar Esook converted a penalty corner rebound two minutes later to level the score at 1-1.
The game then spun into a roller coaster with the Malaysians and Japanese outdoing each other with high intensity performances. Faizal Saari converted a penalty corner (21st) and penalty stroke (32nd) while Fitri Saari extended the lead to 4-3 with a 47th minute field goal.
Japan came back with field goals from Yuki Chiba (24th), Kasumasa’s brace (37th) and Seren Tanaka who found the space between goalkeeper Muhammad Zaimi Mat Deris’ pads and the left post to sneak the ball through in the 59th minute after the Malaysians were reduced to 10 men on the field following a 5-minute suspension for Faizal for picking up a yellow card.
