MEN'S HOCKEY JUNIOR WORLD CUP: YOUNG TIGERS BEAT SWITZERLAND 7-3

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- The national men’s junior hockey squad beat Switzerland 7-3 in the FIH’s Men's Hockey Junior World Cup’s 13th to 16th place classification match at Mayor Hockey Stadium, Chennai, India today.

Malaysia went ahead with a 2-0 lead early, with goals scored from penalty corners by Muhammad Aqil Danial Mat Ruslee in the fifth minute and Muhammad Handzalah Abdul Hadi a minute later but Switzerland struck one in through Jens Fluck in the 13th minute.

Undeterred, the Malaysians struck repeatedly, first with Muhammad Harris Iskandar Osman through a penalty stroke in the 19th minute, then a field goal by Rahul Fazrien Muhammad two minutes later to end the first half at a commanding 4-1.

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Switzerland mounted a comeback of sorts in the second half, with a field goal by Leonard Kraxner in the 32nd minute, but Malaysia held their ground and scored yet again through Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin off a penalty corner in the 37th minute, and proceeded to slot in yet another two field goals - Muhammad Aqil Danial (43’) and Muhammad Danish Aiman Khairul Anuar (46’), and Switzerland managed a final consolation goal at the end of the match through Jens Fluck.

“Today we played well like we planned before the game. Players got chances and managed to score  goals. 

“They played very well in the first and second quarter and managed to control the game in the third and fourth quarters to ensure a 7-3 win,” head coach Nor Saiful Zaini Nasiruddin said in an audio message shared by the Malaysia Hockey Confederation (MHC) today.

-- BERNAMA