Asian Champions Trophy: India versus Malaysia ends in 2-2 draw – Hockey Update
The Malaysian hockey team has succeeded in drawing the game against India 2-2 in the Asian Champions Trophy that took place at the Ordos Hockey Stadium on September 07, 2011.
This draw has put India in jeopardy for earning a berth in the title-claiming match of the continental tournament.
The officials of the Malaysia team were also unhappy over the results and declared it bad luck. Malaysian Hockey Team Manager Stephan van Huizen was of the opinion they would have won if the referee had not disallowed their two points in the second half.
He said, “We also missed a gilt-edged chance two minutes from time when Faizal’s attempt hit the post. It just wasn’t our day. But my boys played well and created several good chances. Now, we must not only beat Japan but must do it by two clear goals if we
hope to finish at least fourth. It will be tough because Japan have a lot riding they need to beat us to book their place in the final.”
Though the results were even after the two halves of play, it was the Indian side which started an offensive style of play from the very starting minutes of the match. The Indian striker Gurwinder Singh Chandi made some efforts to earn a short corner for
the team but the referee was not satisfied with the appeals.
In the later time, the Indian threesome including Sunil, Chandi and Mujtaba drove the ball into the D-Line and received a short corner. However, the effort became futile when the Indians missed the opportunity to score a goal. In the ninth minute, Ravi Pal
Singh held the ball under his stick after Sunil failed to score the goal and slammed a powerful shot into the goal between the legs of Roslan Jamaluddin.
After conceding the first goal, the Malaysians started a fast paced game in hunt for an equaliser. The Malaysians made back-to-back attacks against India to score a goal. After missing two shorts corners, the Malaysians decided to test Tajuddin in the third
attempt, which did not disappoint his side and sent a flicking shot into the goal in the 24th minute. In a matter of eight minutes, the Malaysians made the tally double and put India under heavy pressure. Muhammad Amin converted the fourth short
corner of the play and earned the lead for his side.
Both teams moved into the second half of play with similar score, but India earned another goal in the period and tied the knots. Both the Malaysians and Indians contested the second half in quite a dazzling way but both failed to make the match decisive.
In the 52nd minute, Danish Mujtaba scored the tying goal. The results remained same in the final minute and the match drawn at two-all.
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