Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey: Japan, Poland Suffer Hat-Trick Of Losses

IPOH (Perak, Malaysia), March 27 (Bernama) -- What a humbling experience the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament has been for Japan, the last year’s Asian Games champions. The team from the Land of the Rising Sun crashed to their third straight loss after going down 1-2 to Canada at the Azlan Shah Stadium on Tuesday. World No. 10 Canada took a 10th-minute lead through a Balraj Panesar field goal, but their joy was short-lived as world No. 18 Japan equalised a minute later through Ryosei Kato, also with a field goal. Canada then made sure of all three points when James Kirkpatrick struck in the 41st minute. The Canadians, however, must also thank goalkeeper Antoni Kindler, who was named the man of the match, for his heroics in keeping Japan at bay. Canada has three points from two wins and one defeat while Japan is still without a point. In another match, Poland suffered the same fate as Japan after losing 2-3 to South Korea in dramatic fashion, with two-goal hero Jung Manjae netting the winner 20 seconds before the final whistle. Coach Karol Sniezek’s men broke the deadlock just two minutes before the break, but it didn’t take long for South Korea to hit back when Lee Namyong beat goalkeeper Mateusz Popiolkowski to sound the board in the 40th minute. Undeterred, Poland went ahead again, this time through Jacek Kurowski’s 50th-minute field goal. It was then left to Manjae to steal the show as he pulled South Korea level a second time in the 56th minute before popping up in the dying seconds to deny Poland at least a share of the spoils. -- BERNAMA