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In a dazzling display of skill and strategy, Malaysia delivered a stunning blow to defending champions South Korea, bulldozing them 6-2 to secure a spot in their first-ever Asian Champions Trophy final on Friday.
The Malaysian scoring spree was led by an array of talents, including Faizal Saari, Shello Silverious, Abu Kamal Azrai, and Najmi Jazlan. On the other hand, Woo Cheon Ji and team captain Jonghyun Jang contributed to South Korea's two goals.
The initial quarter was a testament to the thrilling game that lay ahead. Ji's early field goal put Korea in the lead just three minutes into the game. But Malaysia was quick to retaliate, with Azrai netting a field goal within a minute, equalizing the score. The back-and-forth continued, with Malaysia edging ahead through Jazlan's ninth-minute penalty corner rebound. A subsequent fierce drag-flick by Korea's Jang evened the scores again, bringing the tension to palpable levels.
As the second quarter commenced, Saari utilized a penalty corner opportunity to push Malaysia ahead. By the 21st minute, Jazlan added another goal, giving Malaysia a 4-2 lead at half-time.
The intensity ratcheted up further in the third quarter. Although Korea tried to regain footing with a penalty corner and a subsequent penalty stroke, custodian Hafizuddin Othman denied their attempt to score.
The final quarter saw Malaysia solidifying their dominance, with Silverious striking twice in quick succession, increasing the tally to 6-2. Even as Korea tried to switch up their strategy with a goalkeeper change, the scoreboard remained unchanged.
In this historic win, Malaysia not only showcased their prowess but also set the stage for what promises to be an electrifying final in the Asian Champions Trophy.
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