Full Time! And with that, we come to the end of the game, as India complete a massive 6-2 drubbing of Malaysia. They have all but sealed their spot for the summit clash of the Hockey Asia Cup 2017. Mathematically, they need just a draw against Pakistan to make it through. Realistically the +4 goal difference can go a long way to help them out in this regard.
59' - GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!! And its SARDAR SINGH! This is the Sardar of old, that we know. Akashdeep plays it down the channel inside the circle, as Sardar ran on to it, and on the run, played a reverse shot into the far post from a very tight angle!
58' - GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLL!!!!!!! Ramadan pulls another one back for Malaysia! He received a long ball well inside the India circle, turned and poked it below the keeper's feet.
55' - Razie enters the circle, turns, and pulls the trigger, but his shot is miscued, as his stick flies into the air, and grazes Chinglensana's head. That riled up a few of the Indian players, who had a heated exchange with the Malaysians. However, the umpires intervened in time, to cool down the situation.
54- Rahim weaved his way into the circle, went past three Indian defenders to earn a PC. However, India have challenged the call. However, the decision stands, and India lose their referral.
53' - Ramandeep got the ball on the edge ofthe circle on the left flank, jinked past a defender and tried to earn a PC, but his efforts failed, as he ended up hitting the ball on his own foot.
50' - GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rahim converts a PC for Malaysia, to pull one goal back for them. He received the ball at the top of the circle, and flicked it towards the near post, as the ball took a deflection off an Indian stick and went in.
49' - Satpal snatches the ball in midfield and passes it to Lalit in space. He gets a 1-vs-1 situation, but then comes under some pressure from the defence, and gives away the ball.
46' - Gurjant gets things underway, but Malaysia immediately get into the attack. However, India negotiate the attack and settle for a Malaysian long corner.
End of Q3! This has been all about India! They have gone on a complete rampage against the Malaysians, who have shown good form this tournament. However, it does bot seem like they have any way back into the match now.
44' - Chance! Tenku receives the ball inside the India circle, with his back to the goal. He was completely unmarked, as he turned and took his dhot, but again, his shot was well wide.
43' - PC for Malaysia! Chinglensana did brilliantly to get a stick onto that shot, after which the ball was cleared. Akashdeep did brilliantly to sprint backwards and prevent the clearance from going out of play, and played a long through ball to Gurjant, but his pass was a little too ahead.
40' - GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!! SV Sunil makes it 5-0 for India! Sardar steals the ball in India's circle and plays a=out a reverse stick to Sunil, who plays it through to Gurjant. Gurjant runs past a defender and enters the box, switches to his left side, and whips it across goal. A sliding Sunil knocks the ball over the line with his stick. 5-0 India!
37' - Tenku tries to win a PC as he heads towards the India circle, and they immediately go for the review. But the replays show that the impact with Satbir's foot was outside the circle. Its only a free hit.
33' - GGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gurjant makes it four! Akashdeep weaves his way past a couple of defenders on the right side, and crosses it across the face of the goal. Gurjant, who was waiting in exactly the correct spot, just had to tap it into an empty net. 4-0 India!
Half Time! Malaysia have dominated the proceedings towards the end of the 2nd quarter, but the Indian defenders have been able to successfully foil them outside their circle, on most occasions. It has been a rather frustrating half for Malaysia, who have had their chances, but have been wasteful in front of goal. India, on the other hand, have shown their clinical side today, taking a big 3-0 lead into the dressing room at half time.
24' - GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Uthappa gets the third one! Ramandeep takes a shot, but it was deflected off a stick, and falls to Uthappa, who slams it into the far post.
12' - Ramandeep makes a circle entry from the left and pulls the trigger while under pressure from Azri, but his back-swing catches Azri on the head. That looked painful.
21' - PC! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!! Harmanpreet drag-flicks it towards the far post this time, and his shot is accurate, as it sails past an outstretched hand, and nestles into the Malaysia net.
End of Q1! And with that we come to the end of the first quarter. India have been dominant, keeping 62% possession in the Malaysia half, while making 11 circle entries. However, for all that effort, they only have 2 shots on goal to show for it. Their saving grace is that they have gotten the opening goal.
14' - GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Akashdeep breaks the deadlock! He received the ball with his back to the goal, and a defender on his shoulder, as he turned and pulled the trigger, to place it in between the goalkeeper's legs.
6' Ramandeep steals the ball in the middle of the park and sprints towards goal. He plays it through to Lalit inside the circle, as the latter pulls the trigger. However, his shot is parried away.
2' - Malaysia mount an attack from the left wing, and make a circle entry, but the angle is too tight, and the Indian defenders crowded them out in front of goal.
1' - Malaysia get things underway, as India immediately get on the ball and try to launch an attack. However, the on-form Malaysia side get the ball back soon enough.
India will be looking to get their first win in the Super 4 stage of the Hockey Asia Cup 2017, as they take on highflying Malaysia, in Dhaka, on Thursday.
Malaysia have been on top form this tournament, as they finished top ofGroup B, which also included tournament favourites South Korea. They followed up their good performance in the group stage with a 3-2 win over Asian giants Pakistan, on Wednesday, and are currently topping the Super 4 round robin stage.
India, on the other hand, have shown tremendous form in the group stage, as they scored as many as 15 goals in their three matches in Group A against the likes of Japan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
However, their performance in the Super 4 stage has been below par, as they barely managed a late equalizer to level things up at 1-1 against South Korea, on Wednesday.
The Indian attack has been on top form this tournament, with the trio of Akashdeep Singh, Lalit Upadhyay and Ramandeep Singh firing on all cylinders. The midfield has also looked solid, with the presence of the likes of Chinglensana Singh and captain Harmanpreet Singh.
Harmanpreet, who has been named captain for the tournament, has lead the team well, in the absence of regular captain and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh. While Sreejesh has been absent, the likes of Akash Chikte and Suraj Karkera.
Meanwhile, the defence has been solid as well, with the likes of Manpreet Singh and Amit Rohidas manning the back line. Sardar Singh, who has played as a midfielder throughout his career, has been a revelation in his newfound position at the heart of the Indian defence, playing long piercing balls out of the back.
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