IT'S BRONZE FOR MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR: Youngster Mohamed Firhan Ashaari turned hero for Malaysia in the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy as he netted the winner against Japan in the bronze medal playoff in Ordos, China yesterday.

With just seven seconds left on the clock the 18-year-old national junior player pounced on the ball in the D and slammed home a reverse hit into the net for the 1-0 victory.

Until then both teams failed to score. It was the second meeting betwen the two teams in the tournament within three days.

Instant hero: The Malaysian players congratulate Mohamed Firhan Ashaari (third from left) for scoring against Japan in the Asian Champions Trophy bronze medal playoff Sunday. Malaysia won 1-0. – AFP

In the group phase Malaysia came back from two goals down to beat Japan 3-2 and earn a shot at the bronze medal playoff.

Again the youngsters from the Project 2013 squad stole the show against Japan. In the group match Amir Farid and Faisal Saari were the goal scorers. Yesterday, their team-mate Firhan hogged the limelight.

Yesterday both teams had ample chances to score with the Japan having three penalty corners to Malaysia’s two.

But all the attempts failed and by the 69th minute, with extra-time looming, Firhan struck the winner.

National coach Tai Beng Hai said that it was good to beat Japan again.

“It was tough and both teams were tired. This was a match where the team who took their chances well will come out on top. It could easily have been the Japanese. They did try hard as well.

“I must give credit to Firhan for his display and he did well to keep going until the end,” he said.

“There is no doubt that the young players have responded to our call to learn and gain from the outings but overall all the players played well.

“This has been a good tournament. We must learn from it to be better. Japan are also an improved side. Like us, Japan are preparing for the Olympic qualifiers next year, so it was a learning curve for them too,” said Beng Hai.

India emerged the first winners of the Asian Champions Trophy when they defeated Pakistan 4-2 on penalties.

Both teams ended regulation 0-0 and extra time also failed to break the duck. A penalty shootout ensured.

In the shootout the India scorers were Danish Mujtaba, Rajpal Singh, Yuvaraj Walmiki and Saravanjit Singh while Andul Hasserm Khan and Mohamed Ridhwan were the only players to convert their flicks for Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, South Korea defeated China 2-1 to finish fifth.

RESULTS

Final: Pakistan 0 India 0 (India won 4-2 on penalties)
Third: Malaysia 1 Japan 0
Fifth: South Korea 2 China 1

source : Thestar