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Skipper Harmanpreet Singh starred with a superb hat-trick as defending champions India registered their fourth successive win at the Asian Champions Trophy, defeating Malaysia 4-2 on Sunday, November 1.
It was a rematch of the Asian Games gold medal game, where India prevailed over Malaysia 5-1 in Japan.
India had beaten Bangladesh 13-0, China 5-2 and Japan 4-1 in their first three games.
Both India and Malaysia are already through to the semifinals of the six-team tournament alongside South Korea and Japan.
India will play South Korea in their last round-robin game on Monday, while Malaysia will be up against Japan.
Harmanpreet (3rd, 33rd and 58th minutes) converted two penalty corners and a penalty stroke, while striker Sukhjeet Singh (43rd minute)
added a field goal.
Malaysia’s goals were scored by Akhimullah Anuar (25) and Shello Silverius (60).
India made a bright start, with captain Harmanpreet opening the scoring by converting their first penalty corner with a powerful flick past Malaysian goalkeeper Hafizuddin Othman.
India continued to put the Malaysian defence under pressure with repeated circle penetrations but couldn’t find the finishing touch.
Malaysia stepped up the pressure in the second quarter, earning consecutive penalty corners in the 18th minute, but couldn’t find a way past the Indian defence.
India responded with consecutive penalty corners, but Malaysian goalkeeper Othman stood firm to thwart Harmanpreet on both occasions.
Malaysia continued to put the Indian defence under pressure, earning three successive penalty corners in the 24th minute, but the hosts held firm to preserve their lead.
But the Indian defence was caught off guard a minute later as Akhimullah Anuar capitalised on a loose ball inside the D, slotting it home after being set up by Faiz Jali to send both teams into the half-time break locked at 1-1.
India returned with renewed intent after the half-time break and earned their fourth penalty corner in the 33rd minute. Harmanpreet made no mistake, converting another set piece to restore the hosts’ lead at 2-1.
(With PTI Inputs)
