MALAYSIA blew an early lead to lose 5-4 to India in Group A of the Junior Asia Cup in Kuantan Sunday.
After a day's rest, the hosts meet Japan in their final pool match and its a must-win situation of they want to finish second in the Group.
"There were moments of lapses which turned the match around for India, but I'm very proud of the way my boys played today (yesterday) and I am confident that they will rise against Japan to finish second in our group," said Malaysian coach Arul Selvaraj.
Shahril Saabah scored a super reverse stick goal 45 seconds from the start, and Malaysia looked like they were about to maul India.
But after a brilliant save by goalkeeper Ridzwan Azmi in the ninth minute, he made a schoolboy blunder in the 10th minute and Mandeep Singh punished Malaysia and drew level.
This was the fastest match of the tournament, as even before India could settle down from celebrating their goal, Shahril struck yet again.
The No 1 penalty corner flicker in the country, Shahril, scored a cheeky field goal in the 20th minute when he deflected home skipper Najib Hassan's slap-in from the top of the semi-circle.
It was Shahril's third goal of the tournament, as he also scored against China on Saturday.
India coach Harendra Singh, dissapointed that his goalkeeper Vikas Dahiya for failing to stop Shahril's second goal, replaced him with No 2 Suraj Karkera in the 27th minute.
Malaysia took the game the India after the breather, but a lapse in defense saw Gurjant Singh handing his side yet another equaliser with a 40th minute reverse stick attempt.
Malaysia were guilty of giving away easy penalty corners after that, and India finally took the lead in the 46th minute when Harmanpreet Singh blasted home a drive.
And it was almost all over for Malaysia in the 56th minute, when Harmanpreet scored his second penalty corner, while Manddeep Singh made it 5-2 in the 61st minute.
Sufi Ismat pulled one back a minute later to make it 5-3, and Malysia went on a rampage and made it 5-4 in the 66th minute when Shahril nailed his hat-trick.
Meanwhile in Group B, Pakistan upset South Korea 3-0 and are poised to top the group as they have an 'easy' game against winless Oman on Tuesday to collect maximum points.
Korea play Bangladesh last, but even if they win, they are set to end second in Group B.
RESULTS: Group A: China 1 Japan 2, Malaysia 4 India 5.
Group B: Pakistan 3 South Korea 0, Oman 4 Bangladesh 5.
Nov 16: REST DAY
GROUP A
P W D L F A Pts
INDIA 2 2 0 0 7 5 6
MALAYSIA 2 1 0 1 8 5 3
JAPAN 2 1 0 1 3 3 3
CHINA 2 0 0 2 1 6 0
GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
PAKISTAN 2 2 0 0 6 1 6
S KOREA 2 1 0 1 5 5 3
BANGLADESH 2 1 0 1 6 7 3
OMAN 2 0 0 2 6 10 0
Sunday, November 15, 2015
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