Development Team turn Blades to rust

Brisbane (27 June, 2016): The Malaysian Development team triumphed 4-2 over the fancied Queensland Blades in their tour of Australia in Brisbane on Sunday.

It was coach Wallace Tan’s boys maiden win in three matches against a side that has been most successful in the Australian Hockey League by winning the National championships for a record 12 times. The Malaysians lost the first and second friendly matches 1-2 last week.

Midfielder Nik Muhammad Aiman took just four minutes into the game to put the Malaysians 1-0 ahead via a field goal at the State Hockey Stadium in Colmslie before Blades equalised in the ninth minute. Though the Australians had nine penalty corners awarded in their favour throughout the match with every opportunity to turn the tide around it was the visitors who dominated the game.

Goals from Aimrol Aideed (20th), Najmi Farizal (37th) and Izwan Firdaus Ahmad Tajuddin (49th) gave the Development Team a 3-1 lead going into the fourth quarter until Blades closed the gap 4-2 in the 53rd minute from a field goal.

National Development Team Assistant coach, Muhammad Amin Rahim, said: “It was a far better performance from the team on Sunday. Queensland Blades changed the line-up with a much stronger set of players than the last two matches but our players had indeed handled the pressure well.”

“We took our chances well despite having only three penalty corners but overall we had ore attacking opportunities. I hope the boys can maintain this kind of momentum and performance in the next three matches,” said Muhammad Amin, adding that the team will wrap up the Australian tour on June 30 and return home on July 2.