Highlights, Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2018, India vs Malaysia: Sardar Singh and Co pick up impressive 5-1 win over hosts

Third straight win over Malaysia. The big win will give them a boost for their match against Ireland. And a chance to go for the 3rd/4th playoff.

Ramandeep Singh is the man-of-the-match.

Malaysia are on six points and they play their last game against England.

Good play from India. Less errors in the 3rd and 4th and they scored five goals. It’s four points now with a match against Ireland day after.

INDIA HAS WON THE MATCH. THEY HAVE BEATEN MALAYSIA 5-1.

India save it. But can’t prevent another one. It’s the 5th PC for Malaysia.

31 seconds to go. It’s Malaysia’s 4th PC.

It’s a PC and they get the 4th from it also.

Malaysia ask for a referral. They want a PC with 39 seconds to go.

Less than a min to go. India lead 5-1.

Too less time for Malaysia to make their way back. Yet India shouldn’t concede.

Under two minutes left. India lead 5-1.

GOAL. GOAL.

Brilliant strike. Rohidas flick. Gurjant slams in the rebound. It’s 5-1

And it’s a PC. India’s 4th.

India looking for more goals. But they need to lock it down also. India get their 4th PC. Can they? Malaysia want a referral.

It was a Sumit hit into the middle of the circle. Ramandeep deflects high into the Malaysian goal. India lead 4-1.

GOAL. GOAL.

India make it 4-1. It’s Ramandeep Singh

India would have killed it. But what a miss from Sumit Kumar. Empty goal. Shoots out.

India have their 3rd PC. Can they strike now and kill the game?

India stretching the play now. But they need to come up. And stop the midfield play of Malaysia.

Nine minutes to go. India lead 3-1. That was close for India. Gurjant almost had the strike.

Malaysia’s 2nd PC was rendered ineffective by brilliant running by Sumit.

Malaysia get a green. They are down to ten. India should pressure now.

GOAL. GOAL.

Great skill by Sardar. Gives it to Ramandeep whose cross is tapped in by Sumit Kumar. 

It’s 3-1

Malaysia have their 2nd PC. Dangerous. Indian runner has to be fast.

India need another goal to push the Malaysians into a defensive mode. Otherwise, the hosts will come strong in the 4th quarter.

That’s the end of the 3rd quarter. India lead 2-1.

Marijne screaming from the sidelines at Varun. With 51 seconds remaining, the coach wanted the full back to hold the ball and not go for an aerial.

India lead 2-1. There is a minute left in the 3rd quarter.

Brilliant goalkeeping from Hairi Rahman. Saves Varun flick and then Sumit Reverse hit. But Ramandeep picks rebound and flicks it towards goal. Gurjant taps it in.

GOAL. GOAL.

India have the lead. It’s Gurjant Singh

Malaysian error gives ball to India. And they get their 2nd PC.

Simranjeet Singh holding onto the ball. Not releasing it with three Malaysians on him. Almost created an attack for Malaysia.

Suddenly, India lack imagination. Aimlessly pushing ball into the Malaysian circle. Sumit constantly overplaying.

The issue with the Indian team is not about talent or skills. But they simply lack cohesion. Bunch of youngsters playing with a handful of seniors and trying to make it count.

This match will be decided on which team profits from the others mistake.

India in tremendous haste to stop and release. They need to hold. Pick up players in better positions.

It’s 1-1. Expect the Malaysians to power on.

GOAL. GOAL.

Malaysia have the equaliser. Lovely flick by Saari

Malaysia have the PC; their first.

India have to press. To ensure they have the ball to create moves.

First foray into the Malaysian circle to India. Nilakanta cross doesn’t reach Ramandeep.

Teams are back on the pitch. Marijne would have again insisted that technical errors be kept down.

It’s still raining here at the stadium. At the end of two quarters, it’s India 1-0.

Surprising why India is not holding the ball and anxious to release knowing there are two Malaysians in front.

That’s the end of the 2nd quarter. India lead 1-0. But Malaysia has come back strongly and almost got the equaliser with a few punishing runs.

And Fitri Saari almost gets the goal but the shot after a bout of great skill is wide.

Malaysia will squeeze one through if India keep making errors in trapping and passing.

Gurjant had a chance to push to Talwinder but decided to over play. Counter to Malaysia and Karkera brings off a brilliant save.

The only way to win against the hosts is to make every move count.

These PC’s are an issue for India. Historically, they have always been.

It’s not a PC.

Now get a 2nd PC. But Malaysia has gone for a referral. India slightly slow on the PC.

Now get a 2nd PC. But Malaysia has gone for a referral. India slightly slow on the PC.

India in attack mode. And they get the 1st PC of the match.

What a miss from India!

Sumit Kumar had the space but shot straight to the pads. Rebound wasn’t picked cleanly by Ramandeep who still managed a snap shot as GK Hafizudin took it on the glove.

Around nine minutes to go in the 2nd quarter. India still largely playing down the left flank.

Malaysia now pushing upfront. India slightly defensive. They lead 1-0.

India still need to settle play. The only way is to rotate. Keep the errors down.

Malaysia’s Firhan Ashari gets a green now.

And India gets a green card. Stick Check by Dipsan Tirkey. India down to ten for two minutes.

Rains still coming down heavily. 2nd quarter starts with India ahead 1-0.

India dominated the proceedings. But need to cut down the errors as that gives Malaysia the attacking edge. All attack were of Indian sloppy play.

That’s the hooter for the end of the 1st quarter. India lead 1-0.

India giving away the ball. Simranjeet Singh error led to an attack and Tengku almost scored.

Indian tactics quite clear. Keep possession.

Lovely set of skills from Lakra. Small gap between the post and goalkeeper but Lakra flicks it through.

GOAL. GOAL.

India have the lead. It’s Shilanand Lakra with his second goal of the tournament. 

India lead 1-0

That was close!!! Gurjant cross not reaching Talwinder and Lakra.

India rotating the ball. Looking for that gap off a deflection. India need an early goal to create pressure.

India trying to settle down fast. Malaysia’s breaks coming off India’s errors.

Sardar losing the ball in the midfield. Malaysia’s Faizal Saari’s shot is weak.

Possession with India. Early pressure.

Close. India almost snatched the opportunity.

India’s starting line-up

Here’s the starting XI for Indian Men’s Hockey Team as they take on Malaysia in their fourth match of the 27th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup on 7th March 2018. Catch all the action LIVE on Star Sports1/1 HD and Hotstar.#IndiaKaGame #INDvMAS #SultanAzlanShah pic.twitter.com/jA15JAzFFJ

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) March 7, 2018

India putting in early pressure. But Malaysia miss a through into the Indian half.

Still confined to the flanks and the middle. India trying for an early break here.

And there they go. Malaysia creating space in the midfield.

Early goals usually decide these matches. If India can create pressure early and get a few goals, the hosts have a tendency of crumbling.

Teams in a huddle now. The rains are coming in. Malaysian fan groups begin their chants.  It’s an electric atmosphere.

India warming up for the matc****h

India is warming up. Last Azlan Shah, Mas beat India 1-0. But in the last two encounters, India beat them 6-2 and then 2-1 in the Asia Cup final.#AzlanShahCup pic.twitter.com/lwCBd4jyee

— Sundeep Misra (@MisraSundeep) March 7, 2018

And now the Malaysian National Anthem.

It’s the National Anthem of India.

After yesterday’s shock 2-1 win over Olympic Champions Argentina, Malaysia would be hoping to pull off a win against the higher ranked Indian side.

In the 2017 Azlan Shah Cup, Malaysia had beaten India 1-0 and then in the HWL Semi-finals in London, Mas beat India 3-2.

There is a drizzle on while both the teams are lining up. 

In the last two matches between both these sides, India have won 6-2 and 2-1. The last win coming in the Asia Cup Final in Dhaka.

Both have played 116 matches. India have won 81 with 18 drawn. Malaysia has won 17.

Big Match today for both the teams. India are on one point after three matches. Malaysia have six. India need to win to have any chance of playing for the 3rd and 4th place. Otherwise they might be consigned to the 5th/6th spot play-off.

Welcome to the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Stadium. It’s the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and hosts Malaysia take on India in the last match of the day.

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s coverage of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2018 match between India and hosts Malaysia