INDIA 3 MALAYSIA 0

MALAYSIA were soundly beaten 3-0 by India in the 18th Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh yesterday, as mistakes crept into their game after two sterling wins.
Now, coach Tai Beng Hai's men must beat New Zealand, who were shocked 1-1 by Egypt, to book a berth in the final.
Malaysia and India were contended with playing slow hockey, until the duck was broken in the 20th minute.
India won their second penalty corner, but the stopper could not handle the push, and the ball bounced akwardly towards Arjun Halappa, whose hit went in, but did not sound the board.
Egypt umpire Sayed Ab Del first blew for no-goal, but when India protested, stopped the match and consulted co-umpire Gareth Greenfield of New Zealand.
After a brief discussion, Sayed changed his mind and blew for goal instead.
India were not deadly in attack, but did just enough to win another penalty corner in the 31st minute, and Sandip Singh's direct flick found its target and it was 2-0 India at half-time.
Mistakes crept into the Malaysian game after the restart, as they lost almost every third pass to the Indians, who looked contented with the lead, defended in numbers, and only made ocassional frays.
Whenever Malaysia attacked, all 11 India players crammed their own semi-circle, but still, no penalty corners were won because of stout defending.
And in the 62nd minute, Gurinder Chandi delt another blow for Malaysia with a field goal, and with time not on their side, Malaysia lost their first match and must now beat the Kiwis if they want to play in the final.
Meanwhile Egypt cemented the fact that their 21st ranking in the world means nothing when they held No 7 New Zealand to a 1-1 draw yesterday.
Egypt took the lead with a feld goal from Ahmed El Hakeim in the 38th minute, while the Kiwis struggled to find the equaliser which they finally nailed in the 51st minute off Steven Edwards.



Egypt 1 New Zealand 1, India 3 Malaysia 0

STANDINGS

P W D L F A Pts
MALAYSIA 3 2 0 1 7 6 6
INDIA 2 1 1 0 5 2 4
NEW ZEALAND 2 1 1 0 4 3 4
EGYPT 3 0 2 1 4 7 2
PAKISTAN 2 0 0 2 4 6 0



April 9: New Zealand v India (5pm), Pakistan v Egypt (7pm).
April 10: REST DAY.
April 11: India v Pakistan (5pm), New Zealand v Malaysia (7pm); April 12: Third-Fourth (4.30pm), Final: (7pm).