CANADA TAKE SEVENTH
By Carl Markham, PA Sport
As expected Malaysia finished eighth and last in the tournament after losing
the wooden spoon match to Canada.
The competition will have been a great experience for the Asian side, who were
late replacements after Jamaica withdrew, but they have been totally outclassed
in every match they played.
Having conceded 35 goals in their three group games - including a Commonwealth
women's record 18-0 thrashing by defending champions Australia - they started
this match brightly but could not convert two penalty corners in the first eight
minutes.
Canada seized the initiative and took the lead through Kristen Taunton, with
goals from penalty corner moves by Jenny Johnson and Aoibhinn Grimes making it
3-0 at half-time.
Despite dominating the whole of the second half Canada added only two more
goals with Sue Tingley netting twice within the space of a minute in the closing
stages, although Grimes also hit a post with a reverse-stick shot and Andrea
Rushton the crossbar with a deflected penalty corner drag flick.
Despite the defeat, Malaysia's captain Nor Saliza Soobni said the squad - which
includes two 16-year-olds - had benefited from playing in the Games, even though
they did not score a goal during the tournament.
"This is our first big competition and we are too young to do any better,"
she said.
"Our average age is 17 and there are only four who are 22.
"We have no experience as we were only formed three months ago, which was too
late for proper preparation.
"Our target is the Asian Games in 2006."
|
