After losing the opening match of the BDO World Cup Qualifier to Australia (5-0), host Chile stroke back with an important 1-0 victory over Malaysia here in Santiago, Chile.
The game was played in a much colder weather than on the opening day of the BDO World Cup Qualifier. Malaysia who is just recovering from jet lag displayed great determination right from the start of the game. However, the local team Chile supported by many school age children and Hockey enthusiasts responded well to the task.
In the first half Malaysia was stronger than Chile, beating Chilean players to the ball and covering the field more efficiently. They earned the only Penalty Corner of the first half and had more circle entries and shots on goals than Chile. Malaysia had two clear opportunities to score in the first half, one after an excellent pass by Siti Noor Amarina RUHANI who from the right side of the field gave a long pass into the circle to Nor Hidayah AHMAD, who deflected the ball to her teammate Norazlin SUMANTRI who just missed the pass. The Chilean National Head Coach Diego AMOROSO was losing his temper and his players displayed similar behavior, Malaysia tried to used this to their advantage by imposing stronger attacking pace that did not capitalized in any success.
In the 2nd half, a much better organized Chilean team enter the field of play. It seems that Chilean National Head Coach Diego AMOROSO modified the team's strategy to counter the Malaysians long drive attacks.
The ÔÇ£DiablitasÔÇØ (Chileans) started pressuring high forcing Malaysia to hurry their passes creating turn overs. The 17 years old, Manuela URROZ, found herself alone with goalkeeper Farah Ayuni YAHYA after Catherine LAMBOR had lost possession of the ball when pressured by Chilean forwards, but her shot brushed off the left post. The Chilean kept the Malaysian on their heels with long drives of their own. Fifteen minutes into the second half, Chile had 3 penalty corners in a row all 3 were well defended by Malaysia's defense unit, it was only last one that Chile had a direct shot on net with Fernanda RODRIGUEZ trying a reverse shot from the left side of the circle.
With 13 minutes to go, from a side-in deep in her zone, Chilean Andrea SANCHEZ went for a long drive into the offensive zone where Carolina VARAS awaited, she moved pass to Malaysia's last defender Norfaraha HASHIM, and when aggressively challenged by goalkeeper Farah Ayuni YAHYA, umpire Wendy STEWART called a Penalty Stroke in favor to Chile. Javiera VILLAGRA captain of Chilean Team was responsible to give Chile their first goal of the tournament and the lead in this match.
Malaysia perhaps feeling the impact of the long 30 hours traveling and not much time to familiarize themselves to Santiago, showed great willingness to counter attack. The game could have being for any team as a strong play by right wing Norbaini HASHIM just missed an excellent opportunity to score only minutes to the end of the game.
With 7 minutes left in the game, Javiera VILLAGRA went for a back tackle on Siti Noor Amarina RUHANI and was sent off leaving her team short-handed for 5 minutes. With less than 2 minutes on the clock, Siti Rahmah OTHMAN went one on one against Claudia SCHULER, Chilean goalkeeper, only to hit the left post with a drive from inside the area.
The BDO World Cup Qualifier continues on Wednesday. Please click here to follow all action on the special micro site.
