Semi-final hopes crushed as Bangladesh lose 8-1

Bangladesh national hockey team’s Asia Cup semi-final bid was cut short by an 8-1 thrashing from a dominant Malaysian side at the GBK Sports Arena in Jakarta on Thursday.

Iman Gobinathan’s men finished third in Pool B, after winning one and losing two games in this year’s edition.

With three points on the table, Bangladesh finished third and will battle for the fifth-place alongside other teams who failed to qualify for the semis.

Bangladesh got off to a shaky start and were pegged by Malaysia in the first quarter as they trailed by two goals.

Razie Rahim scored both the goals. He got the lead for Malaysia with a goal from the penalty spot in the fourth minute and then doubled their advantage from a penalty corner in the 14th minute.

Bangladesh came back strongly in the second quarter as they got one back through a penalty corner goal from Ashraful Islam, but Bangladesh failed to match Malaysia’s technical superiority.

Malaysia scored two more, finishing the first-half 4-1. Saari Faizal found the net in a splendid field goal in the 24th minute, while Rahim completed his hat-trick from another penalty corner in the 30th minute. Faizal, who was adjudged the player of the match, became the second player to complete a hattrick in the game as he found the net on two more occasions, in the 31st and 46th minute.

Field goals from Nazmi Jazlan and Ashran Hamsani ended the proceedings as Malaysia thrashed Bangladesh 8-1.