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Malaysia perlukan seri

Pemain-pemain skuad kebangsaan melakukan latihan kecergasan dalam kolam renang dekat hotel penginapan mereka di Ipoh, semalam. - UTUSAN/Hafiz Johari 
 
IPOH - Misi untuk memburu gelaran hoki Piala Asia 2013 kini bergantung kepada keputusan perlawanan menentang Jepun pada aksi terakhir Kumpulan A, hari ini.

Malah, jurulatih Paul Revington juga sedar hanya kemenangan dan seri sahaja mampu menjadi penyelamat buat skuad kebangsaan untuk berada di landasan memburu gelaran Piala Asia di Stadium Hoki Sultan Azlan Shah.

Kata Revington, anak-anak buahnya tiada pilihan selain perlu meningkat dengan cepat untuk menentang Jepun selepas tewas kepada Pakistan 1-4, kelmarin.

"Antara bahagian yang perlu diberikan perhatian ialah pada bahagian pertahanan kami.
"Ada beberapa ruang kecil pada bahagian pertahanan perlu ditutup dan diperkemaskan ketika menentang Jepun.

"Saya percaya pasukan Malaysia mampu memperbaiki kelemahan bagi mendapatkan keputusan yang baik," kata Revington.

Pada aksi hari ini Malaysia perlu meraih sekurang-kurangnya satu mata jika mahu melangkah ke separuh akhir pada Jumaat ini.

Mengikut format kejohanan hanya juara kumpulan dan naib juara sahaja layak ke separuh akhir bagi merebut tempat ke perlawanan akhir Ahad ini.

Malah, aksi menentang Jepun dijangka berlangsung sengit berikutan pasukan lawan turut memasang impian ke Piala Dunia di Belanda tahun depan.

Sementara itu, Malaysia yang atas kertas dikira layak ke Piala Dunia 2014 menerusi slot Oceania turun menentang Jepun tanpa tekanan besar.

Kali terakhir Malaysia menentang Jepun ialah pada penentuan tempat kelima dan keenam pusingan separuh akhir Liga Hoki Dunia di Johor Bahru, bulan lepas.

Pada kejohanan itu, Malaysia dipaksa bekerja keras untuk menewaskan Jepun menerusi penentuan pukulan penalti selepas kedua-dua pasukan terikat 1-1.

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