KUALA LUMPUR: The Young Tigers absorbed pressure from their New Zealand counterparts before winning 2-1 in a friendly yesterday as they prepare for the Sultan of Johor Cup (SoJC) starting on Oct 19.
Yadiy Saifuddin gave the national juniors the lead off a penalty corner in the second quarter while Che Nur Aqilrullah Che Khairulzi Anwar scored a field goal in the third quarter at Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru.
The Kiwis narrowed the deficit in the fourth quarter.
National juniors coach I. Vickneswaran said New Zealand played a hard pressing game from the first whistle.
"They were on top of us but my boys did not fear them and settled down well to absorb the pressure.
"Our focus was on team skill rather than individual skill and we managed to dominate the game.
"We played four quarters and after the match we tried powerplay for five minutes by removing the goalkeeper.
"We will play two more friendlies against Great Britain (Oct 16) and India (Oct 17).
There are 20 players in the national junior squad and Vicknewaran will drop two of them before Malaysia open their campaign against New Zealand on Oct 19 in the SoJC.