MALAYSIA finally found their winning touch when they beat hosts China in the Asian Champions Trophy in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, yesterday.
Now, they will have to continue the momentum against India today and Japan in the final round-robbin match to finish among the top-three in the inaugural tournament.
Malaysia, who lost 3-2 to Pakistan and 4-3 to South Korea in the earlier matches, scored off Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin (seventh), Amin Rahim (23rd), Izwan Firdaus (53rd) and Faizal Saari (60th).
The China goals were scored by Liu Yi Xian in the 29th and 35th minutes.
In the other matches yesterday, Japan shocked Pakistan 3-1 while India beat South Korea 5-3 to open up the tournament.
Malaysian team managere Stephen van Huizen said: "There are no two ways about it now, we have to beat India tomorrow (today) to stay in the hunt to finish among the top-four. Against China, the team played much better and now they must put the two defeats behind them and look foward."
Japan are the revelation of the tournament, as they held India 1-1 and then beat Pakistan yesterday.
Meanwhile, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed yesterday that they have yanked the Champions Trophy from India because of internal conflicts involving two hockey bodies there.
"We regret that we have to move the Champions Trophy from India. It is difficult for the teams, the organisers and the fans. But we feel that this is the only way to maintain the integrity of our sport," said FIH President Leandro Negre.
It is believed that the Champions Challenge will now be held in New Zealand on Dec 3-1, as the FIH have offered India to play in the Champions Challenge I in South Africa on Nov 26 - Dec 4.
Currently, the teams in the Champions Challenge I are Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Poland and South Africa.
RESULTS: China 2 Malaysia 4, Japan 3 Pakistan 1, India 5 South Korea 3.
TODAY: Malaysia v India, China v Japan, South Korea v Pakistan.
P W D L F A PTS
INDIA 3 2 1 0 11 4 7
PAKISTAN 3 2 0 1 8 6 6
S KOREA 3 2 0 1 10 10 6
JAPAN 3 1 1 1 6 5 4
MALAYSIA 3 1 0 2 9 9 3
CHINA 3 0 0 3 3 13 0