India vs Malaysia Hockey Semi-Final: India Lose in Shoot-Out
Live updates from India’s men’s hockey semi-final against Malaysia at the Asian Games.
advertisement
- Defending champions India have lost the men’s hockey semi-final to Malaysia after a penalty shoot-out.
- The score was tied at 2-2 after regulation time.
- Before the loss, India were unbeaten at the 2018 Asian Games, scoring a record-breaking 76 goals.
- India topped Pool A and Malaysia finished second in Pool B, behind Pakistan.
India's Record-Breaking Run
Day 12 of the 2018 Asian Games and the big match of the day definitely is the men’s hockey semi-final between defending champions India and Malaysia.
India are, of course, in red-hot form, having scored a record-breaking 76 goals in the group stage of the games. They started with a 17-0 win over Indonesia then beat Hong Kong 26-0, Japan were trounced 8-0, then Korea lost 5-3, and then Sri Lanka suffered a 20-0 loss as India finished unbeaten on top of Pool A.
In fact, in the 110 years of international hockey, their tally is the highest-ever scored by any team, bettering Argentina's 68 goals scored in the Pan-Am Cup in London (Ontario-Canada) in 2004.
Malaysia Finished Second in Pool B
While India scored big in the last week, Malaysia will be a tricky opponent despite finishing behind Pakistan on the other side of the draw.
Barring the 1-4 loss to Pakistan, Malaysia too had a good run in the pool stages with comfortable wins over Kazakhstan (16-2), Thailand (10-0), Bangladesh (7-0) and Oman (7-0).
They are currently ranked 12th in the world, and India fifth.
Malaysia a Tough Customer
Despite their great run in the last week, India will still be wary of Malaysia having lost to them twice in the last year. At the 2017 Hockey World League Semifinal in London, Malaysia beat India 3-2 and then followed it up with a 1-0 win at the Azlan Shah Cup.
But thereafter, India has maintained an upper hand over their opponents, beating them 6-2 in the Super 4s of the 2017 Asia Cup in Dhaka and then following it up with a a narrow 2-1 win in the final to lift the Asia Cup title. After that, India thrashed Malaysia 5-1 in the Azlan Shah Cup before eking out a close 2-1 win at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Team Sheets
Malaysian Goal Overruled
Amit Rohidas touched the ball after the whistle and that little foul gives Malaysia their first penalty corner.
Five minutes into the game and they’ve managed to score!
Buuut.... Rupinder Pal Singh asks for a referral and after a minute of reviewing the videos... the goal is overturned.
The footage shows that the ball touched Malaysian defender Mohammad Saari’s foot before their decoy play and that’s enough for the goal to be overturned.
The score remains 0-0.
India Waste Penalty Corner
Five minutes left in the first quarter and India were awarded their first penalty corner of the match. Malaysian Muhammad Azri fouled Simranjeet on his run into the box and earns himself a yellow card, apart from handing India a penalty corner.
SV Sunil starts the move but India can’t capitalise and the score remains 0-0.
Two Penalty Corners Saved
Muhammad Ashari makes a solo run into the box and even though the India defenders are well placed to stop him, he tries a shot at goal, the ball touching Birendra Lakra’s foot.
Penalty corner.
The first shot is saved by Sreejesh. And the second one as well.
0-0 After First Quarter
Enough shots at goal and two busy goal-keepers but both India and Malaysia have managed to keep the score tied at 0-0 after the first 15 minutes of play in this men’s hockey semi-final.
Q2: Both Teams Miss Penalty Corners
The second quarter is underway and a play by Malaysia ends with the ball touching Harmanpreet’s foot inside the box. Again, they earn themselves a penalty corner.
The corner is taken and Fairaz Saari goes with a direct shot into Sreejesh’s goal this time. But the Indian keeper’s going to not be obliging so easy. The ball is deflected out of his area and the play ends soon enough.
India make a run on the counter which results in a penalty corner for them. Harmanpreet takes the shot but his effort is saved as well.
We’re still tied at 0-0
Q2: Manpreet Denied
27th minute of the match and Manpreet Singh sends one into the box hoping for a deflection from Akashdeep but the ball is a bit quicker and poses no threat to the Malaysian goal.
0-0 at Half Time
They may have scored 76 goals in the last week but the back of the net remains elusive for India in this semi-final against Malaysia.
The score remains tied at 0-0 after 30 minutes of play.
Second Half Underway
The final 30 minutes of play now underway and it’s anyone’s game. Defending champions India looking to not just defend their gold medal but once again win the final and book a berth at the Olympic games.
In the 11 meetings between India and Malaysia at the Asian Games, India has lost just once. Can this be the second?
Q3: India Score!
Two minutes into the quarter and India have their sixth penalty corner of the match.
Akashdeep starts the move and Harmanpreet Singh controls the ball calmly and places it to the left of the Malaysian keeper’s elbow. A smooth move and the ball finds the back of the net.
India take a 1-0 lead!
Q3: Malaysia Equalise
What started with a penalty corner for India has ended in an equaliser instead.
On the counter, the Malaysians make a charge and it’s 3 of them against 2 Indian defenders. The first shot strikes Sreeejesh’s right leg but trouble was not diverted. Fiazal Saari is barely two meters away from Sreejesh and he slots the deflection right into the goal.
1-1!
Q3: India Lead Again. 2-1
10 minutes into the second half and India have a penalty corner again.
SV Sunil starts this one and Harmanpreet Singh controls the ball but slips it to Varun Kumar with a backflip of his stick. The perfect decoy!
The Malaysian defenders charging at Harmanpreet can just watch as Varun Kumar takes the ball and slots it cooly for the lead!
2-1 to India.
Q4: India Down to Nine Men
Sardar Singh got a yellow card at the end of the third quarter and now Surender Singh too has been sent to the sidelines. This is going to be a tense five minutes for India with just 9 players on the field.
Q4: Sardar Back
Okay we can breathe easy.
10 minutes to go and India have Sardar back on the pitch.
Update: 8 minutes left and we have Surender back as well.
Q5: Three Minutes Left
Can India hold on? Just three minutes left in the match with India leading 2-1.
Q4: Malaysia Equalise!
Two minutes left in match and Malaysia have a penalty corner.
Muhammad Razie Rahim’s strong low drag-flick beats all Indian defenders and Sreejesh as well. It’s 2-2 and this match is now going into a shoot-off.
Nerves anyone?
Shoot-Out: India 0 - 0 Malaysia
Unlike football, players have 8 seconds to dribble and get the ball past the keeper.
The umpire has stopped Manpreet though for obstruction. Manpreet has asked for a referral. Overruled.
India miss their first shot and lose the referral as well.
Shoot-Out: India 0 - 1 Malaysia
Muhammad Firhan is quick with his move and Sreejesh comes out to try to deny him. The first shot is saved but the second isn’t. Malaysia have a goal.
The referee asks for a referral though to check if he scored within 8 seconds. Replays show he made it in time, by 0.01 seconds.
Shoot-Out: India 1 - 1 Malaysia
Akashdeep Singh scores easy and India have a goal.
Shoot-Out: India 1 - 1 Malaysia
Tengku Ahmad has his move saved by Sreejesh.
Shoot-Out: India 1 - 1 Malaysia
Dilpreet Singh takes India’s third shot and he is denied.
Shoot-Out: India 1 - 1 Malaysia
Faizal Saarzi is denied by Sreejesh and India stay in this match!
Shoot-Out: India 1 - 1 Malaysia
SV Sunil can’t get a strike in the regulation 8 seconds and India have just the one goal till now.
Shoot-Out: India 1 - 1 Malaysia
Sreejesh saves!
Shoot-Out: India 2 - 1 Malaysia
Harmanpreet has been a star so far. Can he continue to lead India’s charge?
Of course he can. India have the second goal!
Shoot-Out: India 2 - 2 Malaysia
Mohd Saari also beats Sreejesh and that’s the end of the five shots.
Shoot-Out: India 2 - 3 Malaysia
Sudden Death!
Muhammad Ashari beats Sreejesh and India now need to score.
Shoot-Out: India 3 - 3 Malaysia
Harmanpreet Singh returns and he needs a strike to keep India in the match.
And he scores again.
3-3.
Shoot-Out: India 3 - 4 Malaysia
Mohd Fitri once again beats Sreejesh with ease and pressure is on India again.
Shoot-Out: India 4 - 4 Malaysia
Akashdeep looks like he may go over the eight seconds but he just about manages to get this one. India stay in the match.
Shoot-Out: India 4 - 5 Malaysia
Meor Muhamad Azuan scores. And this is just nerves.
Shoot-Out: India 5 - 5 Malaysia
Manpreet also has an answer. Finds the back of the net. India score again and stay in the match.
Shoot-Out: India 5 - 6 Malaysia
Faizal Saari scores and it’s upto India once again.
Shoot-Out: India 6 - 6 Malaysia
Dilpreet Singh scores.
Shoot-Out: India 6 - 7 Malaysia
Tengku Ahmad gives Malaysia the lead again.
Shoot-Out: India 6 - 7 Malaysia
SV Sunil misses his shot and India are out the running for the gold medal.
The defending champions had a 2-1 lead in the semi-final but conceded the equalised in the last 5 minutes of regulation time.
A shoot-off followed and SV Sunil’s miss means India will now fight for the bronze on Saturday.
India Lose After Shoot-Out
Defending champions India have crashed out of the Asian Games men's hockey competition after a 6-7 loss to lower-ranked Malaysia via penalty shoot-off in the semi-finals.
The match went into shoot-off and then sudden death after both teams were locked 2-2 after regulation 60 minutes.
India converted two out of their six penalty corners through Harmanpreet Singh (33rd minute) and Varun Kumar (40th minute) while Malaysia's goals came from the sticks of Faizal Saari (24th) and Muhammad Razie Rahim (59th minute).
In the shoot-off, India were wasteful as only Akashdeep Singh and Harmanpreet scored while India captain PR Sreejesh inflicted three good saves to deny the Malaysians and take the match into sudden death.
In the sudden death, the Indians played catch-up and the Malaysians were clinical with their efforts. Finally, S V Sunil faltered in the fifth attempt, handing Malaysia a famous win and dashing India's title hopes and a direct entry into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)