Madzli backs Malaysia to overcome South Korea, reach Asiad final

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia must increase their workload in every department to overcome South Korea and reach the Asian Games final.

The national hockey team, ranked 14th in the world, will face world No. 19 Korea, who won Asian Games gold four times in 1986, 1994, 2002 and 2006, in the second semi-final match at Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium on Thursday.

Defending champions India will take on arch rivals and eight-time Asian Games champions Pakistan in the first semi-final.

Malaysia have been in great form by winning all five group matches, scoring 34 goals and conceding only four.

Former national men's hockey skipper Madzli Ikmar, who captained Malaysia to the silver medal in the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, said he has faith and confidence that the national team has what it takes to get the better of the Koreans.

"They must increase their workload in every department as the Koreans are no pushovers.

"The Koreans play a well-disciplined game and they are fast in their attacks. The Speedy Tigers cannot give them space to move as they will score once they are in the semi-circle.

"The national team must have a good defence structure to stop their skilful forwards.

"They must also know how to handle the pressure well, as they handled it in the match against Pakistan in the group stage," said Madzli, who represented Malaysia in 313 matches from 1989 to 2013.

In the match against Pakistan on Saturday, Malaysia came back to beat the Green Shirts 5-4 to qualify for the semi-finals.

Madzli added that national captain Marhan Jalil and forward Faizal Saari are two experienced players who are featuring in their fifth consecutive Asian Games.

"Marhan will be marshalling the defence while Faizal is the top scorer for Malaysia in Gifu by scoring nine goals.

"The national team must be able to stop Koreans' penalty corners attack and at the same time our forwards need to create as many chances as possible to get the goals.

"Goalkeeper Zaimi Mat Deris has shown steady progress since playing in the World Cup in Belgium last month.

"He is in good form and has shown maturity at the Asian Games. I am certain that he will be able to play well between the posts against the Koreans," said Madzli, who is the assistant to national junior coach Nor Saiful Zaini.

Semi-final fixtures

Thursday: India vs Pakistan (3.30pm), Malaysia vs South Korea (6pm)