France reaches finals, beats Malaysia in an exhilarating game during the first semi-final match of Hero Hockey Junior World Cup 2013

Beats Malaysia 1-1 (shoot-out: 3-1 – half-time: 0-1)

New Delhi, 13 December 2013: Malaysia were quicker in action in this semi-final, surprising the French defense with a quick free hit drilled into the circle that found Azri Hassan totally unmarked in front of goal with plenty of time to beat Edgar Reynaud.

France had trouble finding their rhythm, but progressively pushed forward closer to the Malaysian circle. Simon Martin Brisac had a chance in the 20th minute after working hard on the back-line but was left with no angle and his shot went in the side net. After hitting the post on their first penalty-corner, the French had most of ball possession but could not penetrate the Malaysian defensive maze, bouncing back again and again.

France hit the post again on their second penalty-corner. They were however depleting their backfield in their quest for the equalizer and Malaysia were dangerous on a few swift counter-attacks in the back of the French defense. Play was intense, with plenty of actions, but no more goals were scored and the Asian Champions went into the break with a very narrow one-goal lead.

France took advantage of a yellow card to Helmi Jali early in second period to increase their pressure. Action was confined in the Malaysian defensive end but, for all their efforts, France could not get the elusive equalizer.

Action was exciting and entertaining, flowing back and forth at full speed, with some heated exchanges. France were briefly down two players and the Asian Champions also collected their good share of cards. Hafizuddin Othman saved a third penalty-corner flicked high in goal, but France were finally rewarded of their persistence in the 63rd minute when Jean-Laurent Kieffer managed a slight touch on a ball drilled into the circle to tie the proceedings, send the large group of French fans into raptures and set up a torrid end of match.

Both teams threw caution to the wind to force a decision. France had the momentum and peppered the Malaysian goal but to no avail and the match needed to be decided by a penalty shoot-out competition, the first of this competition.

France missed their first attempt but Corentin Saunier outplayed two Malaysian strikers to put his team back on top, with Hugo Genestet finishing the job to send Les Bleus in the final of the 2013 Hero Hockey Junior World Cup.

Speaking on their entering the finals, France Coach Foulard Gael said “the team picked up in the second half of the game. Post the first half I was always confident that the team will come back and score in the second session. People back home have been following this team and it’s a prestigious moment for the boys today to have reached the finals. Finals will be a pressure game and a big one too and hoping we get the opportunity to face Netherlands. We have faced Germany in the past and the experience is that they play their best game in the finals”.

Speaking on their loss, Coach Raj Muhammad Dhaarma said “the team has already performed above expectation. When we came to the tournament this year our target was to reach top 6 but we reached the semi finals and hence the team performed above expectations. It is yes disappointing that reaching so far we could not make it to the finals. What the boys have achieved is a matter of pride because all the teams for the tournament were very strong”.