Wasteful Speedy Tigers set for South Korea bronze playoff

The Speedy Tigers faced Japan in the Asian Champion Trophy semi-finals, putting on a strong performance with more scoring chances than their opponents. However, the match ended goalless and Japan secured a 5-3 victory in the penalty shootout, moving on to the final. In the other semi-final, defending champions India defeated South Korea 8-1.

India, who retained the Asian Games title to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, are favored to beat Japan and win their sixth ACT title. Malaysia, silver medalists at the Asian Games, will compete with South Korea for the bronze at 7pm on Thursday.

Malaysia lost the round-robin match to India 4-2 and Japan 2-1, but defeated South Korea 3-1 in the previous round. They failed to capitalize on their chances in the semi-circle after wasting five penalty corners against Japan. Coach Brendon Carolan acknowledged the team's good performance but criticized their inability to convert penalty corners.

He stated that every game is crucial for South Korea, and they aim to finish the tournament with a medal. Malaysia had a strong start to the ACT, winning their first three matches against China, Korea, and Bangladesh. However, they lost three consecutive matches to India, Japan, and 5-3 in a penalty shootout in the semi-finals after a 0-0 draw.