India trounce Malaysia 5-2, keep alive semifinal hopes in Azlan Sh

Kuala Lumpur, June 19 (UNI) Gagan Ajit Singh struck a brace as a charged up India put behind their opening match debacle and hammered hosts Malaysia 5-2 to keep alive their semifinal hopes in the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament here today.

In another Pool A match, Korea stunned defending champion Australia 3-0.

Meanwhile, after being beaten 1-4 by Australia in their opener yesterday, India needed a win to keep up the morale and they did it in style by taking a 2-0 lead at the break.

Malaysia did fight back by scoring twice but India kept up the scoring rate and even after being reduced to 10 men in the 63rd minute -- after Vikram Pillay was shown the yellow card -- they kept the Malaysians at bay to run out winners.

For India, the scorers were Arjun Halappa (13th), Gagan Ajit Singh (22nd and 56th), Sandeep Singh (38th) and Tushar Khandekar (54th).

Malaysia reduced the margin through Azlan Misron (41st) and Jiwa Mohan (43rd).

India attacked from the first minute itself though Malaysia would have gone ahead but for Adrian D'Souza who saved a stunning shot from Chua Boon Huat.

Shivender Singh, Khandekar and Hari Prasad had the Malaysians rattled upfront but errors in the midfield and the Indian defence gave Malaysia four penalty corners in five minutes but Adrian was in tremendous form.

India took the lead in the 13th minute after a dazzling run by Arjun Halappa who went past three defenders and after drawing the goalkeeper out, flicked into an empty goal.

The second goal was a brilliant piece of play by Kanwalpreet Singh who feinted on the penalty corner shot and after the goalkeeper had fallen in anticipation of a grounder, he shot powerfully that went off the keeper's pads. Gagan, who was virtually standing next to the keeper, shot in from close.

In the 34th minute, Gagan had a wonderful run down the left flank but his cross, after beating the entire defence, couldn't be deflected into the Malaysian goal despite Shivender and Hari Prasad angling their sticks.

Three minutes after the break, India increased the lead to 3-0 when Sandeep Singh flicked in India's second penalty corner.

Malaysia fought back and taking advantage of an erratic Indian defence scored twice in the space of two minutes. Azlan Misron deflected in a penalty corner in the 41st minute and then Jiwa Mohan shot home from close in the 43rd minute.

India threw men upfront with Khandekar a constant threat to the Malaysians. In the 54th minute, he picked up a pass and without any delay shot past the Malaysian goalkeeper Kumar Subramanian.

More UNI XC AY RK1729