GREAT BRITAIN DEFEATS AUSTRALIA 3-2 TO LIFT SOJC FOR FOURTH TIME

JOHOR BAHRU, 26 Okt (Bernama) -- Great Britain menjuarai Kejohanan Hoki Antarabangsa Piala Sultan Johor (SOJC) 2024 edisi ke-12 selepas menundukkan Australia 3-2 di Stadium Hoki Johor, di sini hari ini.

Kemenangan skuad kendalian Jon Bleby itu adalah kali yang keempat selepas menjulang piala edisi tahun 2015, 2018 dan 2019, sekali gus menyekat Australia untuk menambah koleksi kejuaraan itu buat kali ketiga.

Pada perlawanan malam ini, Australia terlebih dahulu meledak dua jaringan hasil gol padang Daykin Stanger seawal minit ke-10 dan Dylan Downey tiga minit kemudian menerusi pukulan sudut penalti.

 Great Britain tidak perlu menunggu lama untuk mengejar selepas Kaden Draysey menyudahkan    pukulan sudut penalti seminit kemudian, menewaskan penjaga gol Hunter Banyard.

Jaringan penyamaan Great Britain hadir pada suku ketiga selepas tolakan bola Alex Chihota tepat ke gawang lawan pada minit ke-40, sebelum Rory Penrose menambah jaringan menerusi pukulan sudut penalti pada minit ke-51 suku keempat dan keputusan kekal 3-2 sehingga tiupan wisel penamat.

JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Great Britain won the 12th edition of the 2024 Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC) International Hockey Championship after defeating Australia 3-2 at the Johor Hockey Stadium, here today.

The victory of Jon Bleby's squad was the fourth after having lifted the cup in 2015, 2018 and 2019, thereby preventing Australia from adding to the championship collection for the third time.

In the match today, it was Australia who struck early, not once but twice, the first a field goal in the 10th minute through Daykin Stranger and the second by Dylan Downey three minutes later through a penalty corner strike.

Great Britain however, didn't have to wait long to catch up after Kaden Draysey finished off a penalty corner a minute later, beating goalkeeper Hunter Banyard and the equalizer came in the third quarter after Alex Chihota pushed the ball right into the opponent's goal in the 40th minute.

Rory Penrose added the third and Great Britain’s winning goal through a penalty corner strike in the 51st minute of the fourth quarter and the result remained 3-2 until the final whistle.

Earlier, Tunku Putera Johor Tunku Abu Bakar Sultan Ibrahim graced the event and later presented the 12th SOJC Champion’s Cup to the Great Britain team.

In an earlier match for third-fourth placing, India beat New Zealand 5-4 after a penalty shootout when both teams were tied 2-2 while Japan finished in fifth spot after beating Malaysia, also via a penalty shootout.

Meanwhile, Great Britain’s Alex Chihota was crowned as the Best Player, while New Zealand’s Jonty Elmes walked away with the Top Scorer award with 11 goals in total, while Magnus McCausland from Australia was chosen as the Best Goalkeeper.

A total of six countries contested in the under-21 championship this time and the last time Malaysia won the SOJC was in 2011 which was the first edition of the tournament.

-- BERNAMA