Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Following a day of shootouts at the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup, hosts Malaysia will play New Zealand for the eleventh spot, while Belgium will play South Africa for ninth place in the playoffs.
Egypt beat Canada (1-1, SO: 3-2)
The Canadians controlled the first quarter of play, and Mahmoud Husin of Egypt had to deny them an early lead with a superb low save from a penalty corner. When Maansarovar Sidhu deflected in from the p-spot off a variation of a penalty corner, they took the lead. Despite Ahmed Fahmy’s 10-minute suspension for a slide tackle, Egypt dominated the second quarter and trailed 0-1 at the half after a goal was disallowed
Egypt looked dangerous and equalised in the first minute of the second half, Hussein Awad deflecting a penalty corner in at the post. But it started going wrong with first Mohamed Hosni serving a 10-minute suspension, and Fahmy being sent off for his second yellow card offence at the end of the third quarter. The Egyptians started the final period with nine players, but Canada couldn’t take advantage and the scores were locked at 1-1 after 60 minutes. Egypt made less errors in the ensuing shootout and to win it 3-2.
Korea beat Chile (2-1):
Korea overcame a late deficit to defeat Chile 2-1. The first half of the match was captivating, with few genuine opportunities. In the 25th minute, Joaquín Muñoz finally scored with a drag flick to put Chile ahead. By the halftime break, Korean goalkeeper Seyeon Kim had stopped any further damage with a deflection from open play.
Neither team could create anything in the third quarter but Korea seemed to be building momentum into the final period. Kim kept them in the hunt with a good double save from open play and Korea finally drew level after 52 minutes, Taewon Seo tapping in Junyeol Lim’s pass from the baseline after a patient buildup. Daehyun Kim put them ahead two minutes later, receiving a free hit and smashing it into goal from the top of the circle. Chile took their keeper off in the final minutes to push for a goal and very nearly drew level but Kim made another double save before the third shot ricocheted off the crossbar.
Belgium beat Malaysia (2-2, SO: 5-3):
When their match ended 2-2 after sixty minutes, the greatly favoured Belgians had to fight hard to defeat the hosts, Malaysia, 5-3 in a shootout. Max Luyten’s field goal gave Belgium a 1-0 halftime lead after impressive saves from both Mohamad Rafaizul and Boris Feldheim, the goalkeepers.
The start of the second half was delayed by torrential rain but once action resumed Hugo Labouchere rocketed in a drag flick for Belgium, only for Adam Ashraf to respond with a scrappy field goal for the hosts a minute later. Malaysia then applied sustained pressure, post-man Guillermo Hainaut saving a penalty corner and Feldheim saving a field goal, before Ashraf drew the home side level with a penalty stroke. This sent the match into a shootout in which Belgium scored from all five attempts for the win.
South Africa beat New Zealand (3-3, SO: 4-3)
South Africa stunned New Zealand by scoring three goals in the first half of the match, tying the score at three, and winning the fourth goal in the shootout. Aiden Bax’s tenacious field goal late in the first quarter gave New Zealand the perfect start. Two minutes later, Sam Lints’ rebounded shot beat the goalie’s stick, beating South African goalkeeper Gianluca Virissimo’s outstanding savine from a penalty corner. To keep their halftime lead to 2-0, Virissimo denied New Zealand twice more.
After the break, James Hickson gave the junior Black Sticks a three-point lead when his cross swerved in off another unlucky defender. However, a minute later, Jaydon Brooker scored a drag flick and Hans Neethling scored a penalty shot for South Africa, setting up a tense final quarter. Neethling gave South Africa a point through open play to force a shootout, which South Africa won 4-3 in sudden death.
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