Hockey World League Semi-Finals 2017, highlights: Malaysia upset India 3-2

And that is all from the Lee Valley Hockey Centre. Malaysia have beaten India 3-2. This is their 2nd consecutive victory. In the Azlan Shah, they had beaten India 1-0.

India will regret the chances they missed. But they should have been more aggressive in the midfield. Malaysia played to a plan and they won.

Final scoreline

#HWL2017 @TheHockeyIndia v @hockeymalaysia https://t.co/xLgdQWGXHV pic.twitter.com/AW1OjQMo4h

— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) June 22, 2017

India can only blame themselves. No urgency. No structure. They imploded in a match they should have won.

And Malaysia have won the match 3-2. India are out of the Semi-Finals. Malaysian players on the pitch hugging each other. They have pulled off the impossible.

What a miss by Ramandeep!

Just a min to go. Malaysia lead 3-2.

India have pulled off their goalkeeper. And now have an extra player in the field. But only two minutes left.

India are losing time. And in another three minutes the match will be in Malaysia’s favour. And Malaysia has their 7th PC. This could be the death-blow. If Malaysia score, it’s curtains for India.

Akashdeep cannot stop a loose ball in the Malaysian circle. Another opportunity goes away. Mandeep a complete non-starter in the match.

Six minutes to go and Akashdeep reverse hit is deflected by the Malaysian goalkeeper. Their best chance in the 4th quarter. Malaysia now holding the ball, running a few seconds off. They are going for a win.

Structurally, India are not in the game. They are powering in but they need to control the ball play. At the moment, out of sheer desperation they are throwing in everything.

India has about ten minutes to get the equaliser. Time running out in terms of finding some fluency in their game. India are on the back foot. Malaysia throwing men into defence. Mandeep has the deflection. He should have controlled the ball as he had the space. But trying to be cute lost India an opportunity.

Malaysia get the lead 3-2. Razie Rahim scores his 2nd goal of the match. India are stuttering.

And Malaysia get their 6th PC. It’s 2-2 at the moment and a great chance for Malaysia to snatch the lead.

As the referee gives a 6th PC, India refer to the video umpire saying it was a high ball.

And Malaysia get their 5th PC. Can they score and take the lead?

That’s the start of the 4th quarter. Tense minutes these as both teams are locked 2-2.

At the end of the 3rd quarter. both teams locked in at 2-2.

And that’s an expensive miss by Talwinder. Had the space but lets a shot that goes past the post. Expensive miss!!

India playing too crowded. Malaysia get a green card. Ragged play by both the teams. An error might give a goal to either of the teams.

Malaysia are on the defensive. This is the time to seize the opportunity and get the goals. India need the lead as minutes pass in the 3rd quarter. Taking it to the 4th quarter, will leave India open to counter-attacks.

At the moment both the teams trying to get through. No fluent moves. It’s more get the ball and run. Some structure needs to come in. India are attacking but need a fluency to get the goals. They have wasted two consecutive PC’s.

India have wasted two consecutive PC’s. India need to get the goals against this Malaysian side. Remember if Malaysia win, they qualify for the 2018 WC. India as hosts are already qualified.

And that’s the 3rd PC for India. Consecutive ones.

And Sardar creats the 2nd PC for India. Can they?

The 3rd quarter seems to have opened up. India and Malaysia kind of letting the structure go for a while and go attacking at both ends. For India, controlling the game would be best. Talwinder has the ball but too much dribble.

India have replaced their goalkeeper. Dahiya goes out and Akash Chikte comes in. Harmanpreet get a green card. India down to ten men.

The 3rd quarter about to begin. The Indian defence not up to the mark in the 2nd quarter. Down by two goals they fought back to equalise.

Scoreline at half-time.

#HWL2017 @TheHockeyIndia v @hockeymalaysia https://t.co/xLgdQWpmQn pic.twitter.com/vilQSeXx2F

— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) June 22, 2017

India still rotating the ball around the flanks. And that’s the end of the 2nd quarter. It’s 2-2 at half-time.

India are back into the game. They had their 1st penalty corner in the game which was saved but the play brought the ball to Chinglensana whose stiff shot was saved by the Malaysian GK but the rebound was flicked in by Ramandeep Singh. It’s 2-2.

Ramandeep gets the equalizer on the spot to flick it in. It’s 2-2.

An ultra-defensive India trying to come out of it’s shell. Attacking now. Looking for the equaliser. It’s 1-2 to Malaysia.

That’s the goal from India. Sumit cross and Ramandeep deflects it in. It’s 1-2 to India.

India have a game on their hand. They are 0-2 down and a non-existent midfield is piling on pressure. Both goals off set-pieces. India have to push. And push hard.

Malaysia get their 2nd goal off Tengku Ahmad. It’s a deflection after a flick by Razie. Malaysia lead 2-0.

Malaysia get their 4th PC of the match.

Malaysia attacking now. Using the length of the pitch. And now they want a referral for a PC.

GOAL! Malaysia take the lead through Razie Rahim. Flick is perfect, going into goal off Dahiya’s stick. It’s 1-0 to Malaysia.

Malaysia now using the high ball and they get their 3rd PC of the match in the 2nd quarter. Dangerous moment for India.

Man-to-Man marking by the Malaysians. And then they use the tactic of a high ball and almost get the opening goal but Dahiya in the Indian goal anticipates the move well.

And the 2nd quarter begins with India pushing for goal. The deadlock needs to be broken.

That’s the end of the 1st quarter. No goals from India or Malaysia.

Just a minute left. This is a hugely tense encounter. The first quarter has been almost equal with India just about dominating the midfield. But no goals from either teams yet.

Sporadic attacks from Malaysia. But they look dangerous. India being defended out by Malaysian numbers. Probably a reason why India is attacking from the right and left and not the middle.

Both teams appearing a bit desperate to find the early goal. India has to settle down rather than running wildly. This is going to be an edgy game.

Two consecutive opportunities in the Malaysian striking circle. But India unable to keep the ball under control. These are sharp chances and need to be taken.

Malaysia using the midfield to feed the flanks. They have an impressive forward line and can break away with pace. India needs to be careful. They need the match under their control and not commit too many errors.

But the Malaysian flick of the 2nd PC is wide off the mark. Malaysia very aggressive in the start. They know they need an early lead to curb India.

And it’s a second consecutive PC for Malaysia. Can they take a lead here?

Both the teams trying to gain control of the flow now. Malaysia with a wonderful chance and they get their 1st PC of the quarter.

And there they go. India with the ball using the midfield to break through. Controlling the flow in the start.

And that’s the National Anthem completed. Teams taking position and getting into their huddles. Will the Indian forward line fire today? Seconds away from this huge QF clash. India Vs Malaysia.

The Indian players line up for the national anthem.

India Vs Malaysia. QF clash.#HWL2017.#indianhockey pic.twitter.com/eXhZ9NtsLH

— Sundeep Misra (@MisraSundeep) June 22, 2017

Teams about to enter the pitch. It’s the 2nd QF of the day. It’s India taking on Malaysia.

Traditionally, both India and Malaysia have played some very close matches. Except that in the 2016 Azlan Shah, India had beaten Malaysia 6-1. Their last meeting in the 2017 Azlan Shah saw hosts Malaysia beat India 1-0. Today, should be competitive with Indian fans hoping to see India win and enter the semi-final.

In the first QF match of the day, Olympic Champions Argentina beat Pakistan 3-1 and confirmed a place in the 2018 World Cup to be played in India.

Welcome to the Lee Valley Hockey Centre. It’s the Big Game of the Day. The Quarter Final between India and Malaysia. Should be a cracker of a game between these two Asian sides.

Argentina beat Pakistan 3-1 in the first quarter-final of Hockey World League Semi-Final.

The second quarter-final between India and Malaysia will begin shortly.

#HWL2017 @ArgFieldHockey v @salaamhockey https://t.co/xLgdQWGXHV pic.twitter.com/B8aNrvkCaP

— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) June 22, 2017

The quarter-final fixtures for today

Glance through the QF fixtures at the Hero Men's #HWL2017 SF in London on 22nd June!
📺: @StarSportsIndia & @hotstartweets#IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/B71qL7LXuw

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) June 22, 2017

Final standings of Pool B

Image courtesy: Twitter.com/@TheHockeyIndia

Here are the final standings of Pool A

Image courtesy: Twitter.com/@TheHockeyIndia

Indian won their first three matches comfortably against Scotland, Canada and Pakistan but lost to a dominant Netherlands side in their final Pool B game on Tuesday. 

Meanwhile, Malaysia defeated South Korea and China but lost their matches against Argentina and England.

Though World No 6 India obviously have the upper hand over World No 14 Malaysia, India can’t be complacent, as coach Roelant Oltmans warned them on Wednesday. 

At Sultan Azlan Shah Cup earlier this year, India lost to Malaysia and failed to make the final. So, they must surely be wary.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Welcome to our live coverage of the quarter-final match between India and Malaysia in the Hockey World League Semi-Final in London.