Great Britain vs. Malaysia (Men)
Olympic Qualification
02.11.2019
16.30 Push Back
The atmosphere in the stadium before the start of this game seems to be a little bit more electric then the earlier women’s game. I can hear a bit more murmuring around the place, and the media room is now packed. GB Men come into this game ranked seventh in the world, whilst Malaysia is placed 11th, so the hosts are somewhat favourites. There is, however, an interest as to what the tourists can bring. David Ames is winning his 90th cap today. Scottish Alan Forsyth is on 98 international goals, maybe he can make his century this weekend. GB and Malaysia will play today and tomorrow. The aggregate score will produce a winner, who will therefore qualify for 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. A member of the Malaysian media tells me that midfielder Fitri Saari is the player to watch.
As the game begins both teams are testing each there out in the earlier exchanges. Great Britain are a bit more patient, in their mild up play then their opposition, with Malaysia pressing well up front. It’s the Malays who get the first short corner in the sixth minute. It’s blocked in the first phase but the clearance ends up back with them and a pass is fired into the circle. It’s deflected into the far corner, with Nail Noor getting the final touch; GB 0 – 1 Malaysia.
Malaysia are having the better chances, playing some fun attacking hockey, but the Brits are looking for the equaliser and in the ninth minute James Gall fires one over the bar. The first short corner for GB arrives in the 11th minute. A firm drag, is palmed away by the Malaysian keeper Kumar Subramiam. Its end to end stuff as George Pinner is tested at the other end. This is a proper game of hockey, lots of high end energy and action, but just the one goal in it so far; GB 0 – 1 Malaysia.
We’re into the second period now. The game is fast, also with a touch of physicality. There’s been a handful of body checks and the sort. The away team have a definite Asian flare for one to one skill and attacking style. The Brits are trying to pass a bit more, but struggling to get past the Malaysian defensive line of sight, at times. A passing move from the centre of defence, goes out to the British left. The pass is dropped back and to the left and Sam Ward finds a foul for a short corner. A decent save from the keeper and there’s a second short. Phil Roper gets it again, but finds the keeper’s deflector pad. Malaysia come away with the ball and remove it from danger. The Brits are passing by numbers, looking to create the angles, but the Malays look fit and are covering things well, even from the front line. When I mention this to the Malaysian journalist next to me a smile creeps across his face. Coach Danny Kerry’s style of play, that his Great Britain side playing, is working at times, as a second phase attack bobbles just wide of the post. There has been a few half chances, but nothing golden yet in open play. With under a minute left of the half, Malaysia has got a short corner’s. The shot is blocked and in the process hits a Malay foot for a free hit out. At half-time the score remains GB 0 – 1 Malaysia.
As the second half starts Britain looks to spread the ball around. They aren’t panicking yet, despite being a goal down. The look to keep moving the Malaysian players around, using David Ames as a focal point. The ball is moved forward down the right, into space on the wing, it’s centred and Sam Ward duly finds a gap with a first touch, for the equaliser. Great Britain are starting to find a of rhythm. They play keep ball on the left, until they see a space to feed Phil Roper. He sticks his defender, spins to find space and unleashes a shot from way back when and sends it past the goalie to make the scores now GB 2 – 1 Malaysia.
Great Britain are keeping the ball well, and Malaysia are struggling to keep up the same level of intensity as they had in the first quarter. A pass from deep on the left finds James Gall at the top of the circle. He taps on to Alan Forsyth who duly scores. There are those north of Hadrian’s Wall that would call him world class and he has duly stepped up to the accolade. As we come into the final break the score is GB 3 – 1 Malaysia.
Two minutes into the final period, the hosts are finding a lot more space. Forsyth, receives the ball in the circle, touches it towards goal and commits the keeper. It’s saved, but falls to James Gall, who is repaid for his earlier kindness and gets a goal for himself and his team’s fourth; GB 4 – 1 Malaysia.
The tourists have definitely dropped the tempo. The game plan is still in place and they aren’t letting GB walk through in the slightest, but they just aren’t playing with the same hustle and bustle as before. Saying that in the eighth minute Malaysia get a short corner and then another in quick succession. This time they force a deflector pad save that comes with a thud, from George Pinner. Both teams are looking to get another, Forsyth and Roper combine well in midfield, but can’t get a shot off. Three and a half minutes remain and this is now about game management for tomorrow, with regards the aggregate score. Malaysia’s best chance in this period comes when Abu Kamal Azrai intercepts a pass out from the British back line, but can’t hit the target. The game ends with the advantage for the hoe team; GB 4 – 1 Malaysia.
At the final whistle, I caught up with goalscorer, Sam Ward of Great Britain; “Yeah, definitely, it’s nice to grab a goal today, me and Al it’s nice, but I’m not gonna lie, in these two games, I don’t care who scores, I just want that ticket to Tokyo… We know how they play, they like to play counter attacking hockey, but we are also one of the fittest sides out there, so we know if we can run them for three quarters of the game, hopefully we can coach in later on.”
