Malaysia In Classification Match Despite Beating South Korea 2-1

KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 (Bernama) — A late strike by Shello Silverius secured a 2-1 victory for the Malaysian men's hockey team over South Korea in their final Pool A match, yet it was insufficient to clinch a semi-final berth at the FIH Hockey Men's Nations Cup in South Africa.

The "Speedy Tigers" concluded their group stage campaign in third place with six points, finishing behind New Zealand who dominated the pool with 12 points and Japan who secured the second qualifying spot with seven points.

Earlier, Malaysia enjoyed an explosive start when Mohamad Akhimullah Anuar Esook opened the scoring with a field goal as early as the fifth minute, however, South Korea managed to claw their way back by finding the equaliser in the 20th minute through a field goal by Lee Gangsan.

Both teams then engaged in a tactical match until Shello Silverius emerged as the hero by firing home a field goal in the 58th minute to clinch the maximum three points for Malaysia.

The victory remains a bittersweet one for the national squad as the tournament only allows the top two teams from each group to advance to the knockout stage to fight for the title.

Having missed out on the top-four battle, Malaysia will now move into the classification bracket to determine the fifth to eighth-place finishers in the competition.

The national team is scheduled to face the United States in their next encounter tomorrow. 

-- BERNAMA