India Beat Malaysia for semis

MALAYSIA displayed better understanding, but still went down 3-1 to India in the Junior Asia Cup in Hyderabad yesterday.
The win saw India reaching the last-four comfortably.
In another Group A match, Japan hammered Singapore 9-1 and will meet Malaysia in their last group match on Monday, where a win will ensure Malaysia play in the semi-finals.
India took a 2-0 lead into the breather with goals from Ranjeet Singh and Diwakar Ram, but Malaysia narrowed the gap with a 38th minute goal from Khairul Anuar.
Diwakar was on target again off a penalty corner to give India the win. It was Diwakar’s fourth goal in two matches.
"We matched India, but lost out to Diwakar’s powerful drag flicks. Otherwise, it was a much better performance that against Singapore (Malaysia drew 2-2).
"Now, we must beat Japan on Monday, and we will be in the semi-finals," said national Juniors coach V. Muraleedharan.
The India team was described as "Continuing their below normal performance that everyone witnessed yesterday (where they beat Japan 2-0), India showed no improvement in the first half at least. They was lethargic, moves were not constructive, even defence clearances were pathetic," reported a website.

STANDINGS
GROUP A
P W D L F A Pts
India 2 2 0 0 5 1 6
Japan 2 1 0 1 9 3 3
Malaysia 2 0 1 1 3 5 1
Singapore 2 0 1 1 3 11 1


GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
S Korea 1 1 0 0 8 0 3
Pakistan 1 1 0 0 5 1 3
Oman 1 0 0 1 1 5 0
Bangladesh 1 0 0 1 0 8 0

RESULTS: Group A -- Singapore 1 Japan 9, Malaysia 1 India 3.
TODAY: Group B -- Oman v Bangladesh, South Korea v Pakistan.
TOMORROW: Group A -- Japan v Malaysia, India v Singapore; Group B: Pakistan v Bangladesh, South Korea v Oman.
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