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INDIA, Pakistan and Malaysia have qualified for the round robbin of the Asia Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The fourth slot will be decided Monday when South Korea and China square off in Group B. South Korea only needs a draw while China must win to play in the medal round.
On Sunday, India beat Pakistan 3-1 to top Group A. Pakistan and Japan ended the group stage on four points, but Pakistan advanced on a better goal average.
It was India's third consecutive win against the Green Shirts this year, as in the London World League Semifinals India won 7-1 in the group stage and 6-1 in the 5th-6th classification.
RESULTS: Group A: India 3 Pakistan 1, Japan 3 Bangladesh 1.
STANDINGS
GROUP A
P W D L F A Pts
INDIA 3 3 0 0 15 2 9
PAKISTAN 3 1 1 1 10 5 4
JAPAN 3 1 1 1 6 8 4
BANGLADESH 3 0 0 3 1 17 0
GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
MALAYSIA 2 2 0 0 9 2 6
S KOREA 2 1 0 1 8 4 3
CHINA 2 1 0 1 3 8 3
OMAN 2 0 0 2 3 9 0
RESULTS: Group B: Malaysia 2 South Korea 1; China 2 Oman 1.
STANDINGS
GROUP A
P W D L F A Pts
INDIA 2 2 0 0 12 1 6
PAKISTAN 2 1 1 0 9 2 4
JAPAN 2 0 1 1 3 7 1
BANGLADESH 2 0 0 2 0 14 0
GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
MALAYSIA 2 2 0 0 9 2 6
S KOREA 2 1 0 1 8 4 3
CHINA 2 1 0 1 3 8 3
OMAN 2 0 0 2 3 9 0
MALAYSIA beat South Korea 2-1 Saturday to cement their spot in the Asia Cup Round Robin with a match to spare in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
On Monday, Malaysia will play Oman while South Korea will meet China in the final Group B matches.
The Koreans sat back and soaked in the pressure for the first 10 minutes, but still, Malaysia could not find the much needed break.
Only in the last five minutes of the first quarter did the Koreans break into the Malaysian semi-circle, but stout defending kept them at bay.
The stakes were high for Korea, as they needed to win and keep their World Cup hopes alive, while Malaysia played with great composure to deny them.
Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin finally gave Malaysia the break, when he deftly dribbled into the semicircle and won the second penalty corner, for Faizal Shaari to nail the opening goal, and his fourth of the tournament, in the 17th minute.
Faizal again played a pivotal role when Malaysia won their third penalty corner. This time he pushed to the centre for a set-piece and even though the ball was stopped by goalkeeper Hong Doopyo, Azri Hassan tucked in the rebound in the 19th minute.
However, Korea came back into the match in the 27th minute when Lee Seunghoon scored a field goal from close range.
But Malaysia played in the remaining minutes to deny South Korea an equaliser.
ends/
INDIA hammered Bangladesh 7-0 to become the first team to qualify for the Round Robin of the Asia Cup in Bangladesh yesterday (Friday).
In another Group A match Japan placed themselves in deep trouble when they played to a 2-2 draw against Pakistan.
The draw made it difficult for Japan to reach the Round Robbin and challenge for a World Cup berth.
Now, Japan must beat Bangladesh by a healthy margin in their last Group match on Sunday and hope India beats Pakistan to make the second round.
Arslan Qadir (16th) and Umar Bhutta (50th) socored for Pakistan, while Kenta Tanaka (22nd) and Heita Yoshihara (29th) delivered for Japan.
RESULTS: Group A -- Pakistan 2 Japan 2; India 7 Bangladesh 0.
STANDINGS
GROUP A
P W D L F A Pts
INDIA 2 2 0 0 12 1 6
PAKISTAN 2 1 1 0 9 2 4
JAPAN 2 0 1 1 3 7 1
BANGLADESH 2 0 0 2 0 14 0
GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
MALAYSIA 1 1 0 0 7 1 3
S KOREA 1 1 0 0 7 2 3
OMAN 1 0 0 1 2 7 0
CHINA 1 0 0 1 1 7 0
JAPAN are in deep trouble after they played to a 2-2 draw against Pakistan in Group A of the Asia Cup in Bangladesh Friday.
The draw has made it difficult for Japan to reach the Round Robbin and challenge for a World Cup berth.
Now, Japan must hammer Bangladesh in their last match and hope India beats Pakistan to make the second round.
Pakistan: Arslan Qadir 16th, Umar Bhutta 50th.
Japan: Kenta Tanaka 22nd, Heita Yoshihara 29th,.
