Highlights Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2017, India vs Malaysia, hockey scores and updates: India bow out after loss to Malaysia

IT’S BEEN A DAY OF UPSETS. FIRST JAPAN STUNNED AUSTRALIA 3-2. AND NOW MALAYSIA HAVE BEATEN INDIA 1-0. THEY HAVE PREVENTED INDIA FROM ENTERING THE AZLAN SHAH FINAL.

ON SATURDAY, IT WILL BE AUSTRALIA VS GREAT BRITAIN FOR THE GOLD; INDIA VS NEW ZEALAND FOR THE BRONZE; AND MALAYSIA VS JAPAN FOR THE 5TH/6TH PLACE.

INDIA HAVE LOST 0-1 TO MALAYSIA. THEY WERE IN THE FINAL IN THE LAST EDITION BUT WILL NOW PLAY ON SATURDAY FOR THE 3RD/4TH PLACE WITH NEW ZEALAND. LOT OF INTROSPECTION TO DO FOR INDIA. TWO GOALS WASN’T A BIG TARGET. BUT THEY HAVE LET THEMSELVES DOWN.

INDIA IS OUT OF THE RECKONING FOR A FINAL PLACE. SURENDER SWINGS AND MISSES THE BALL. THAT SUMS UP THE EVENING FOR INDIA. AUSTRALIA NOW PLAY GB IN THE AZLAN FINAL. INDIA WILL PLAY THE KIWIS FOR A BRONZE MEDAL. INDIAN PLAYERS ARE ON THEIR KNEES. IT’S BEEN A BAD DISPLAY. MALAYSIA PLAYED THEIR BEST MATCH.

India waste their PC. It’s difficult now as India cannot score three goals in the last one minute. India are almost out of the running for a Final Berth. (01:24, 4th Q)

Manpreet Singh goes into the striking circle and India have their 5th PC. They need a goal now. (02:56, 4th Q)

Harmanpreet Singh’s push probably hits a Malaysian player on the leg. India go for a referral asking for another PC. But NO PC for India again. (03:21, 4th Q)

With less than four minutes left, India have their 4th PC. Can they pull one back? (03:40, 4th Q)

Sardar tries to go through. But the Malaysians are sticking to each and every player. No space is given. (04:53, 4th Q)

Akash Chikte is off the field as India push in eleven players. Time is running out for India. It’s been an exceptionally bad display till now. Rupinder Pal Singh skies a cross – this is exactly what has happened. Just no firepower. (06:26, 4th Q)

AND MALAYSIA HAVE SCORED. THEY HAVE THE LEAD. INDIA NOW HAVE TO SCORE 3 IF THEY WANT A FINAL BERTH. MALAYSIA LEAD 1-0. (09:27, 4TH Q)

It’s the 4th PC for Malaysia. A goal now could destroy India hopes of a final. (10:13, 4th Q)

Malaysia get their 3rd PC. And the flick is wide. Counter by India and Akashdeep can’t trap inside the Malaysian striking circle. Manpreet is back on the field. Chikte also stays in his position as GK. (10:45, 4th Q)

Manpreet Singh gets a green card. It brings back the GK into the game. India down to ten men. Malaysia asking for a referral and want a PC. (12:08, 4th Q)

SURPRISE!! INDIA HAS PULLED OFF THEIR GOALKEEPER. THEY HAVE 11 IN THE OUTFIELD. IT’S DANGEROUS ALSO. MALAYSIA MAY ALSO LOOK FOR THAT SCORING OPPORTUNITY. (13:53, 4TH Q)

THAT’S THE END OF THE 3RD QUARTER. IT’S GETTING DIFFICULT FOR INDIA. NO MOVES COMING. MALAYSIA DOING SOME EXCELLENT MAN-TO-MAN MARKING. OLTMANS AND THE TEAM NEED TO OUT-THINK THE MALAYSIANS.

It’s surprising that with two forwards upfront, India is not playing a packed midfield. Not a single move is working. SV Sunil is not waiting to hold the ball but loses out on possession. Being marked out is one thing. Not getting possession is not good enough. (00:41, 3rd Q)

The game is spreading out a bit. India need to seize the play in the middle and move forwards. Most of the players are upfront. The need for goals is desperate now. Just under five minutes left in the 3rd quarter. (04:34, 3rd Q)

India will have to either create and pump in penalty corners or have possession and build-up. At the moment, it seems like India is looking for a draw. Team not stretching out play. (07:42, 3rd Q)

Faizal Saari flick. But it’s dangerous. Umpire gives it to India and then changes decision and changes it back again. Malaysia have wasted two PC’s. Time running out now for India. Yet, a goal could change the pace and give India space. (09:47, 3rd Q)

Chikte saves. Surender clears. But Malaysia wants a referral. And they get their 2nd PC. (11:33, 3rd Q)

And Malaysia have their 1st PC of the match. (11:49, 3rd Q)

Manpreet to Mandeep inside the Malaysian striking circle. But Mandeep can’t hold onto the ball. Malaysia counter-attack. The 3rd quarter might open up the game. (12:22, 3rd Q)

And the 3rd Quarter begins and India start to hunt down the two goals they need. They also need to keep Malaysia away from scoring. (3rd Q)

The teams are back for the 3rd quarter. Hopefully, Coach Roelant Oltmans has said something to perk up the team. Win or lose, they need to go all out and get those goals. No goals. No Final. Winning the match by two goals is the only equation in front of the Indian team. (3rd Q)

What can India do right here? Their forward line has not been getting into positions. Neither have they strung together any decent moves that could have ripped apart the Malaysian defence and put them on the defensive. On the contrary, Malaysia probably would take strength from this display and start some strong offensive moves. A goal from India, however, could change the look of the match.

END OF THE 2ND QUARTER. IT’S STILL GOALLESS. INDIA HAS HAD POOR TWO QUARTERS. 3 PC’S WASTED. 30 MINS TO GET TWO GOALS NOW. TIME RUNNING OUT ON INDIA.

India have had the better share of the possession and opportunities but have not been able to translate that into goals. Arasu (02:43, 2nd Q)

Rupinder’s flick flies wide. India defensively poor as they are beaten on the counter. Mandeep seems sluggish. (03:31, 2nd Q)

Malaysia, of course, would want to win this match. But they would be happy to have contained India till now. But India have their 3rd PC. (05:15, 2nd Q)

And Malaysia win their referral. No 3rd PC for India. (06:38, 2nd Q)

India have their 3rd PC of the match. Malaysia is asking for a referral.

It’s been a match of errors from both the sides. Malaysia intent on man-to-man marking and looking for counter-attacks. India have had only one shot at goal. Malaysia none. India have to throw off their markers and create moves from the flanks if taking the ball through the middle is not working. (08:11, 2nd Q)

India need to get their act together here. Too many mistakes here by the team; losing possession; not switching quickly; and too many mistraps. (11:08, 2nd Q)

Rupinder Pal Singh’s powerful flick and Malaysian GK Kumar saves brilliantly. It’s still goalless. (13:22, 2nd Q)

And India have their 1st PC of the match. Can they score off it? (14:35, 2nd Q)

The 2nd Quarter about to start. Both teams are goalless. India looking for two plus goals to enter the Azlan Final. Can they create something in the 2nd quarter? (14:43, 2nd Q)

At the end of the 1st quarter, India have to get a few things right here. The defence needs to be more assured in tackling and sending the through balls. Too much pressure is being taken by the Indians. Malaysia are probing but still not going all out as they fear the counter-attacks from India. In this match, India needs to win by two plus goals.

Indian players have been making plenty of ball handling mistakes and that is putting them on the backfoot. Arasu (02:34, 1st Q)

No shots on goal from either team. But Malaysia have had the edge in possession and entries into the striking circle. (03:23, 1st Q)

India, once again, on the back foot. Malaysia attack and the through ball goes wide. India need to hold the ball in the midfield. There is a need to build-up. (04:51, 1st Q)

And India get the video referral right. It’s still drizzling. No PC for Malaysia. (06:17, 1st Q)

And Malaysia get the 1st PC of the match. India wants a video referral.

India losing too many balls in the Malaysian half. They look a little under pressure. This is a match they need to win by 2 and more goals. Hurrying with their passes, they are giving away the initiative to the hosts. (07:32, 1st Q)

Malaysia trying to move on the flanks. They are keeping possession. Ensuring that the Indians come for the ball. Opening up avenues for counter-attacks. Match is at a slow pace. India needs to inject pace into the game. (09:49, 1st Q)

India knows exactly what they need to do to qualify for the final – a two goal win margin: Arasu (11:24, 1st Q)

We are on our way. India having the ball. Now entering the Malaysian half. Half-hearted swipe from Rupinder Pal Singh and the possession is with Malaysia. Early strikes could also decide the fate of this match.

And the rains come down. It’s a strong drizzle. India is playing a match under lights for the first time in the tournament.

The teams huddle up and in a minute, we will be on our way. Indian fans keeping their fingers crossed, expecting the National Team to enter the Azlan final.

Both teams entering the ground and the National Anthem starts with India.

Both teams are now ready to enter the ground. Wonderful opportunity for Indian goalkeeper Akash Chikte to put up a good performance and keep the Malaysians away. He played the Asian Champions Trophy final against Pakistan, last year, and brought about 3-4 brilliant saves.

Malaysia may have just one point after four matches but like always they have created chances but haven’t been able to put them away. India needs to be careful today against their pacy forwards and the defence would need to be on their toes.

Teams:

INDIA:

Harmanpreet Singh, Akash Chikte (GK), Rupinder Pal Singh, Gurinder Singh, Manpreet Singh (Cap), Mandeep Singh, Harjeet Singh, Pardeep Mor, SV Sunil, Akashdeep Singh, Chinglensana.

MALAYSIA:

Shamsul Haziq, Marhan Jalil, Fitri Saari, Faizal Saari, Sukri Mutalib (cap), Subramiam Kumar (GK), Razie Rahim, Faiz Jali, Najmi Jazlan, Shahril Saabah.

In the Azlan Shah, this will be the 24th meeting between India and Malaysia. India have won 15 matches; Malaysia 5 with 3 matches drawn. India has scored a total of 66 goals with the hosts getting 40.

Today, the only option before the Indian team in reaching the final is to win and win by two or more goals.

Just a bit about the Japan Vs Australia match. For the 1st time in 57 years, Japan beat the World Champions 3-2. It was their 23rd match. Earlier, India had barely managed to beat Japan 4-3, thanks to a hat-trick from Mandeep Singh.

Welcome to the Azlan Shah Stadium here in Ipoh.

After the shock 3-2 victory of Japan, the 16th ranked nation over World Champions Australia, there is a buzz around the Azlan Shah Stadium. India are playing hosts Malaysia and the home fans would be expecting that their team win and stop India from going into the Azlan final. India need to win by a 2-goal margin.

Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of India versus Malaysia in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2017. It’s a crucial encounter for India as their hopes of reaching the final rest on this result, Malaysia being the hosts won’t make it easy for India who will be looking to pip Great Britain for a spot in the final. So stick around for all Live score and updates from the game