Highlights, India vs Malaysia, Hockey Match Result, Asia Cup 2017 final: Men in Blue win 2-1

…to sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore

WE ARE CHAMPIONS! Congrats @TheHockeyIndia for winning the #AsiaCup2017 title for the third time! May the victories keep coming! #INDvMAS pic.twitter.com/gSqscnoBsd

— Col Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) October 22, 2017

And the congratulatory tweets keep pouring in. From (currently injured) Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh…

Congratulation team @TheHockeyIndia ..... great win ..#champion #AsiaCup2017

— sreejesh p r (@16Sreejesh) October 22, 2017

And that’s it from Dhaka.

The team will get the Asia Cup.

And hopefully, this is the start of good things as the Indian team prepares for the 2018 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Pakistan finished third in the tournament.

Pakistan finish the Hero Asia Cup 2017 with the Bronze Medal!https://t.co/tOg3qdTQL9#HeroAsiaCup #AsiaHockey pic.twitter.com/CKhkoDWslG

— Asian Hockey Federation (@asia_hockey) October 22, 2017

The victorious Indian teams pose for photos.

THAT'S WHAT WINNING LOOKS LIKE. INDIA ARE ASIA CUP CHAMPIONS.#AsiaCup2017.#AsiaCupHockey.#IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/uwAZtUP9kU

— Sundeep Misra (@MisraSundeep) October 22, 2017

The Indian team are celebrating on the pitch with the national flag.

Malaysia must be disappointed.

India left it a little too late.

They could have clinched the match in the 3rd quarter but too many misses in the Malaysian striking circle.

It’s also the first win under new coach Sjoerd Marijne.

India are the Asia Cup champions for the third time.

Super win. It’s their first big win after winning gold at the 2014 Asian games and the 2016 Asian Champions Trophy.

Hail the Asia Cup champions!

CHAMPIONS! India clinch the coveted #HeroAsiaCup 2017 (Men) crown with a thrilling win over Malaysia on 22nd Oct.#INDvMAS #IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/iQde0JKZG3

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 22, 2017

And that’s it.

India are the Asia Cup champions.

They beat Malaysia 2-1 in the final. They win coming under massive pressure from Malaysia.

It’s the countdown.

Less than 30 seconds left.

India defend it away.

Free hit outside the Indian striking circle.

Barely a minute left in the match.

Can India hold on?

Or will Malaysia come back?

Malaysia is looking for a PC. Video umpire comes in.

Under two mins left in the match.

India lead 2-1.

India need to hold the ball.

Malaysia have pulled off their GK.

They now have 11 field players.

And they defend with their lives.

India trying to kill time.

Huge error from Varun.

Puts the ball onto his own feet with no Malaysians in front.

It;s a PC to Malaysia.

We are into the last five minutes of the match.

This will be close.

Malaysia will now use the high ball.

Six minutes left in the match.

India lead 2-1.

Errors creeping into India’s game.

Malaysia almost got another PC.

Malaysia look for the equaliser.

India out to defend it’s one goal lead.

This will be touch and go for India.

Malaysia have the space.

And they are playing with three upfront now.

India rotating the ball. Eating away time.

India must be angry with themselves. They missed open chances in the 3rd quarter.

And they let Malaysia come in and score.

It’s a soft goal and the Indian defence was caught napping.

It’s 1-2.

Game on.

Now it will be tense.

Under ten mins left.

Goal!

Malaysia have pulled one back through Shahril.

But India want the video umpire to have a look.

India lead 2-0 in the 4th quarter.

They play possession now. Precious seconds tick away.

India save and go on a counter attack.

And it’s Malaysia who miss.

But they get a PC.

Start of the 4th and last quarter.

15 minutes between India and the Asia Cup.

And that’s the 3rd quarter done with.

India could easily have scored a few more.

But the forwards are missing goals and even with an empty goal couldn’t smash the ball in.

Malaysia is still hanging in and knows that one goal can create pressure on India.

India cannot afford to have these misses.

They lead 2-0.

Another miss by Ramandeep Singh. Perfect ball from Lalit.

But he shoots wide. 

Malaysia is still alive.

Another miss from India. Both Ramandeep and Lalit miss shots.

And that’s an open goal missed by Lalit Upadhyay.

Gaping hole in the Malaysian goal and he shoots over and wide.

What A Miss!!!

Under five minutes left in the 3rd quarter.

India searching for a 3rd goal.

India pressing through Sumit.

It’s his pacy move through the flank and middle that is causing problems for Malaysia.

India now looking for a third goal.

India should remember that Malaysia got a last minute goal against Korea to enter the final.

Almost there as Ramandeep and Sumit create a brilliant move.

India on the attack now.

Ramandeep is down, felled by a shot from Surender.

But thankfully he is up as Malaysia press from the flank.

A two goal cushion hardly lasts in modern hockey.

And the Indian coach would have surely said to get the goals and not break the structure.

Players coming on now for the last two quarters.

Huge from India’s point of view.

They will need to hold the ball and score more to make the match safe.

It’s still a long way off.

Scoreline at half-time

HT! A fantastic 1st half for India as they have a two-goal cushion heading into the break.#HeroAsiaCup #INDvMAS pic.twitter.com/jIcsqBEqhG

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 22, 2017

Sardar has been brilliant in the 2nd quarter along with Sumit.

Four defence splitting moves all coming from Sardar.

Leading 2-0, India should build on it.

Extremely crucial goal for India as the 2nd quarter ends.

India lead 2-0.

Goal!!!!

That’s 2-0.

Akashdeep to Sumit and Lalit taps it in.

India lead 2-0.

Three minutes left in the 2nd quarter.

Too many misses from Akashdeep.

India defending strongly.

India lead 1-0.

Malaysia defend the PC again. 

India wasting opportunities.

It could be expensive in the long run.

Akashdeep shot saved by Malaysian goalkeeper.

Leads to the 2nd PC for India.

Slip shod play upfront.

Sardar created space for Sunil.

But he is running wide.

India need to cut into the striking circle.

And the flick is defended and deflected away.

India need to score from their chances.

They cannot have Malaysia come into the match.

And that’s India’s 1st PC of the match in the 2nd quarter.

Harmanpreet Singh with 7 goals is on the pitch.

India still leading 1-0.

They need another goal if they want pressure on Malaysia.

Malaysia have slowly come into the match.

And now they look for avenues.

Malaysia at this moment look slightly more steady.

India giving away the balls in the midfield.

And what a miss from Malaysia.

Two forwards couldn’t trap the ball as it zipped away.

India slightly wary in their play.

They keep their structure and not moving upwards unless they are sure of the ball.

Players falling back constantly.

India started strongly and scored through Ramandeep.

Malaysia gained possession and even got a PC but couldn’t score off it.

End of the 1st quarter.

India lead 1-0.

And Malaysia miss the PC. Couldn’t stop.

India holding now.

Trying to gain control again.

And that is Malaysia’s 1st PC.

Will they equalise?

Fast counter from India.

Sunil to Akashdeep but he is not in position.

Malaysia slowly coming back into the match. They are building well and have come close twice already.

And that was well struck by Chinglensana.

But it is wide from a very acute angle.

India trying to build on the 1-0 lead.

And it’s not a PC.

India get a free hit.

Malaysia looking for a PC.

They have gone to the video umpire though the umpire didn’t give one.

The first of the few errors coming into India’s play.

Wrong passes from Akashdeep and Amit.

Malaysia almost penetrate.

But there is an infringement.

India back to rotating the ball.

Keeping a sweeper at the back also.

India playing tightly.

Keeping possession. 

Not allowing Malaysia to attack or build in the midfield.

Indian players spread out.

And the video umpire has ruled it’s not a PC.

And that’s the first PC for India.

Malaysia have appealed and the video umpire has work to do.

It was a dangerous rising ball in the circle.

Lovely move from the right flank and the Malaysians left Ramandeep without a guard.

Paid the price. Ramandeep just flicked into an empty goal.

India lead 1-0.

GOAL!!!

That’s a Ramandeep strike.

India lead 1-0 inside the 1st 5 minutes.

India making the first forays into the Malaysian striking circle.

Suraj Karkera to start as Indian goalkeeper.

Dipsan, Varun and Surender at the back with Harmanpreet.

And there they go.

Teams are into a huddle.

Seconds away from the Asia Cup Final.

And there the teams are coming onto the pitch.

Followed by the National Anthem.

India last won the Asia Cup in 2007.

Will they lift the Cup tonight?

Even though both the teams played yesterday with barely 24 hours of rest, the final should be a pacy affair.

Unless, both the coaches use them defensive methods to start the 1st quarter.

Both teams coming off the pitch.

And we expect the final to start in a few minutes.

Both the nations have played two finals before.

Both in the Azlan Shah.

India won the 1985 Azlan Final against Malaysia 4-2.

And then in 2009, India won the Azlan against Malaysia.

In the Asia Cup, till now India has played Malaysia 7 times, winning 6 and drawing one match.

India has not lost a single match to Malaysia in the Asia Cup.

As per the hockey stats guru, BG Joshi, India and Malaysia have played:

115 matches with India winning 80 drawing 17.

Malaysia have won 18 matches.

The Indian hockey team warm up ahead of the final

The Indians getting into the groove.#AsiaCup2017.#AsiaCupHockey.#IndiaKaGame.#hockeymalaysia.#fieldhockey pic.twitter.com/2UhqXWWQUH

— Sundeep Misra (@MisraSundeep) October 22, 2017

Here’s the starting XI for India.

Here’s Team India’s XI for the grand finale vs Malaysia in the #HeroAsiaCup 2017 (Men) on 22nd Oct. #INDvMAS

📺: Star Sports & Hotstar pic.twitter.com/TFfMwjc6as

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 22, 2017

In the Super 4, India beat Malaysia 6-2.

But India will not take that score-line seriously at all in the final.

Indian coach Sjoerd said yesterday that the Final will be a new game.

Both India and Malaysia on the pitch.

Warming up, firing in a few PC’s before the Final.

Malaysia’s first Asia Cup final.

India’s 8th entry in ten editions; Some Record.

In the previous match between Pakistan and South Korea, Pakistan came back strongly to beat Korea 6-3.

Korea did try hard but Pakistan were the ones wanting that victory.

Hello.

And welcome to the Maulana Bhashani Stadium here in Dhaka.

Big game today – India Vs Malaysia, The Asia Cup Final.

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s live coverage of the Hockey Asia Cup 2017 final between India and Malaysia.

India have been consistent throughout the tournament and remain unbeaten in the tournament. On Saturday, they thrashed arch-rivals Pakistan 4-0 to sail into the final while Malaysia drew with South Korea.

Stay tuned for more updates.