KUALA LUMPUR – Being emotional on the turf cost the national junior hockey team the match as they suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat against Japan in their second fixture of the Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC) yesterday.
This loss marks the second consecutive defeat for head coach I. Vikneswaran’s side, following a narrow 3-2 loss to New Zealand on Saturday.
Tumpat-born Adam Ashraf Johari gave Malaysia the lead with a solo effort that sailed past Japan’s goalkeeper Kisho Kuroda in the 35th minute.
However, Japan quickly responded, netting four goals in just 12 minutes to turn the tide of the match.
The world number 18 team was awarded a penalty stroke in the 39th minute, which Hyota Yamada confidently converted to beat Malaysia’s goalkeeper Rafaizul Saini from the spot.
Just four minutes later, Yuto Higuchi struck from the top of the circle, followed by goals from captain Yamato Kawahara in the 48th minute and Koyo Nishida in the 51st minute, sealing Japan’s victory.
Reflecting on the match, Vikneswaran emphasised the need for his players to manage their emotions better.
“We started off very well, and this was a game we should have won. But if we don’t capitalise on our chances, we won’t score, and we end up punishing ourselves.
“We took the lead, but the boys need to know how to move with the ball, and we kept making critical errors. These errors gifted Japan easy goals, and from that point on, the game changed.
“The players were emotional, which destabilised their emotional intelligence, and this affected the team’s overall performance. Hockey is a team sport, and they can’t try to do everything individually. When the synergy is missing, the whole team suffers.
“We had four penalty corners, but they were back-to-back. We should have scored from them. Penalty corners are still a work in progress for us, and we need to improve,” said Vikneswaran in a post-match press conference.
Looking ahead, he stressed the importance of approaching their next game against India with a solid plan, especially as they remain at the bottom of the SOJC group table with zero points.
Japan’s head coach Yoshihiro Anai acknowledged the advantage of having experienced players in his lineup.
“We know the Malaysian team, and they’re known for their strong pressing. But we analysed them over the past few days, and that helped us secure the win against a strong team.
“Five of our core junior players have experience playing in the Asian Champions Trophy in Inner Mongolia, and this has benefitted the team as a whole,” said Anai.
Japan currently sits third in the SOJC table with three points.
As the tournament progresses, Malaysia will aim for a turnaround in their next fixture against group leaders India tomorrow. — October 21, 2024