Kuala lumpur: Great Britain maintained their excellent record in the Under-21 Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC) 2025 when they beat Malaysia 4-1 at Taman Daya Hockey Stadium here tonight.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the visitors scored their first goal through a penalty corner by Kaden Draysey in the 10th minute. Malaysia’s Muhammad Adam Asyraf Mohd Johari equalised in the 17th minute through a field goal, but Jonny Sturch-Hibbitt quickly responded with a goal for Great Britain in the 19th minute. Monty Neave extended Great Britain’s lead with a third goal in the 26th minute.

Sturch-Hibbitt sealed the victory by scoring the final goal of the match in the 39th minute.

Head coach Nor Saiful Zaini Nasiruddin admitted that the Malaysians struggled to stop Great Britain’s quick gameplay and also failed to maximise their opportunities to find the net. He acknowledged that Great Britain controlled the ball better, making it difficult for Malaysia to tackle and defend against their fast-paced movements.

Nor Saiful mentioned that Malaysia had chances to score at 1-1 and 2-1 but failed to capitalise on them. He noted that Great Britain’s tactical maturity and effective finishing were key factors in their victory. Despite the 4-1 result seeming significant, he considered it a fair outcome, given Great Britain’s advantages.

The head coach emphasized the importance of adapting to the fast tempo of rivals, particularly in counterattacks and marking, as crucial lessons for his squad. He expressed hope that the match against Great Britain would serve as a valuable learning experience for the team as they prepare for their next match against India on Friday.