Hockey Asia Cup 2017, Super 4s: India vs Malaysia – As it happened...

Happy Diwali!

India produced their most clinical performance of the tournament to thrash second-ranked and hugely confident Malaysian side 6-2 in Dhaka. India needed a big win today ahead of Saturday's final Super 4 match against Pakistan, and they did it in style. (MATCH REPORT)

India are now top of the table with four points from a win and draw, followed by Malaysia with three points from a win a defeat. South Korea are third with two points from two draws, while Pakistan are fourth with one point from a draw and a defeat.

FT! India put forth a towering performance to blaze past Malaysia in the Super 4s clash of the #HeroAsiaCup 2017 (Men) on 19th Oct.#INDvMAS pic.twitter.com/uze80H1fi5 — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 19, 2017

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FULL-TIME

Fourth quarter (IND 6 - 2 MAL)

60th min. GOAL! Sardar Singh then scores a brilliant goal with seconds remaining in the match. What a counter-attack. The former captain finishes in style. Three points for India.

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59th min. Another tense moment as Harmanpreet lose his stick in the centre. This is turning out to be bad-tempered game even as both the umpires continue to control the duels. Malaysia win another PC with Fitri Saari producing a good run inside the Indian circle. Eighth PC for Malaysia, fourth in this quarter. Good defending from the Indians, but there's enough pressure. It's started raining in Dhaka, and Ramadan Rosli buries another one for Malaysia. GOAL. Good feel goal for him.

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56th min. Malaysian captain Sukri Mutalib launches an attack, then Razie Rahim beats Sardar, and couple of Indian players on a freewheeling run, before the ball gets out of the field from a possible deflection from Manpreet. India challenge the PC decision. TV umpire says, there's no clear reason to change the initial call. India lose referral. PC for Malaysia. This time, Chikte produces a perfectly timed dive to block. Another PC. Another block from the Indian keeper. Then came the nasty part. Surrender Singh gets hit on the foot by Fitri Saari, losing his stick as a result. The stick flies high and hit Chinglensana in the head.

53rd min. India regroup after conceding the first goal of the match. Lots of passing around, but Malaysia win back the ball in the centre.

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50th min. Fourth PC for Malaysia. A consolation goal for Razie Rahim, his second goal. Akash Chikte should have done better, beaten on the move.

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49th min. Harmanpreet wins the ball just outside the Indian circle, looses again, then India launch another attack. Lalit gets himself into a one-on-one position, but he gets himself blocked.

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46th min. What sums up India's brilliance today is these numbers: 8 circle penetration, 5 goals. Yes, there's a PC conversion, but at 50%, it's still unthinkable game.

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Third quarter (IND 5 - 0 MAL)

45th min. Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin is brilliant. He toys with Indian defenders but, the link-up play from the final push comes to nothing. Still a commendable move from the 31-year-old. India, on the counter, again test the Malaysian defense.

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42nd min. Marhan Jalil tries to go solo against a packed Indian midfield, but he gets blocked. A PC to Malaysia for deliberate body block. Good block with the second wave doing just enough to confuse the Malaysian drag-flicker.

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39th min. What a GOAL on the counter. Gurjant produces a brilliant, intelligent run beating two Malaysians, then sends in a cross for Sunil, who dives to make the contact. What a sight.

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38th min. Give and go play from Indians are creating huge chaos in the Malaysian camp. Harmanpreet earns a free-hit near the far corner, but India fail to make the most out it. SV Sunil then lose the ball in the centre, giving the ball back to Malaysia.

36th min. Ramandeep going for a PC, and ends up footing the ball. From the following play, Malaysia challenge a call, saying there's a carry by an Indian player inside the circle. Hit was on the line, with the toe just about crossing over. Tough call.

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34th min. Akashdeep almost gets another goal, but the ball passes by on his weak side. This is an insane attacking game from the Indians.

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33rd min. Good start from the Malaysians with a three-man frontline. They need quick goals. Lalit and Gurjant combine well to launch India's first attack in this quarter, then Akashdeep picks up the ball just outside the circle than Gurjant SCORES with a nice tap-in. Another field goal for India.

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18:03 pm. Here are the key stats:

India's attempt 5, one more than the Malaysians
India's circle penetration 15, two more than the Malaysians
India;s possession 53%
India's PC conversion 1 off 3; Malaysian have 0 off 3

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18:00 pm. Akashdeep 15' (field goal), Harmanpreet 19' (drag flick) Uthappa 24' (field goal) - what a first-half for India. These three goals have everything.

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HALF-TIME

Second quarter (IND 3 - 0 MAL)

30th min. One quite period of play in Dhaka before the hooter.  Malaysians get the final touch, but what a dreadful half for them. India are on cloud nine.

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28th min. A moment of introspection for the Malaysians and they are rolling the ball, trying to find a hole in the Indian defence. But Indians are keeping a tight line of defence, then a loose ball results in India launching another attack. What a vision captain. Manpreet sends a pinpoint crossfield minus, but the following play's not up to the mark.

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24th min. Marhan Jalil beat three Indians, including skipper Manpreet Singh, then breaches the defence before earning a PC. India goalie rises to the challenge, and a good save. Then, from the following play, SK Uthappa smashes the third GOAL for India. Advantage on, and India take full advantage of it even as Malaysians wait for a call from the umpire. 

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22nd min. India continue to press hard, then Sumit hits Azri Hassan while going for a reverse flick. Nasty play from the Indian youngster. Then, SV Sunil uses his stick to get hold of Shahril Saabah. Green card. India are playing tough, this is not required.

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19th min. This is one fast hockey match. India just defended a long corner, and within seconds, win a PC on the other end. Ball goes high, and another PC for India. Then, Harmanpreet Singh scores his SIXTH GOAL of the tournament with a brilliant flick. What a finish. He equals shares the top-scorer honours with Malaysian Faizal Saari.

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17th min. Gurjant Singh escapes after hooking a Malaysian player with his arms. It looks like he hits intentionally. India captain consoles both the sides. Malaysian then misses a clear-cut chance to equalise, but they earn their first PC thanks to a foot from Chinglensana. Good save from Suraj Karkera. Blocked with his body. Another PC.

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First quarter (IND 1 - 0 MAL)

15th min. India weather the few anxious seconds to end this positive quarter on a high.

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14th min. GOAL! Akashdeep. Manpreet Singh sends in a pinpoint pass, then Akashdeep turns his body and slams hard. What a finish! India, then survive a huge chaos with Sardar failing to mark his line, missing everything. Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin's furious. He could have killed it.

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12th min. India start playing like the favourites. Challenge for India, going for a PC even as the official award a free hit. Clean defending from the Malaysians. No foot there, only a stick deflection.

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10th min. Green card for Haziq Samsul, for his foul on Sardar Singh. From the following play, SV Sunil fails to connect the ball. It was one good chance for India.

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8th min. A good spell of the Malaysians, but India responded with a counter, and Manpreet win a free hit. Good play from the Malaysians with Shahril Saabah getting a free hit thanks to a body block.

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6th min. India make a mess of the PC, failing the trap the injection, then the attackers inside the circle leaving their positions. Pathetic hockey from the favourites. But, India got a crack at the Malaysian goal with Lalit going for it. Good save from the Malaysian goalie Kumar Subramaniam.

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4th min. Initial pressure from the Malaysians. In one of the attacks, India goalie Suraj Karkera forces himself out of his line to thwart a Malaysian attack. Then, on the counter, India win a PC thanks to a carry inside the circle.

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2nd min. Malaysia start the proceedings but soon lose possession to India. They are targeting their first ever Asian Cup final, and a win today will be enough to book a final spot.

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5:07 pm. This year, they have faced each other five times with India winning three times. By the way, India are ranked sixth in the world while Malaysia are 12th, but in this tournament, they are two top teams.

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5:05 pm. As we get ready for the start, relive Gurjant Singh's last minute goal against South Korea which helped salvage a point for India.

#ICYMI: Watch Gurjant Singh’s dramatic late equaliser over Korea and much more in the #HeroAsiaCup 2017 (Men) on 18th Oct.#IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/M5GgIqMMR9 — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 19, 2017

5:02 pm. And here's India's full squad:

Goalkeepers: Akash Chikte, Suraj Karkera; Defenders: Dipsan Tirkey, Kothajit Khadangbam, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar; Midfielders: SK Uthappa, Sardar Singh, Manpreet Singh (captain), Chinglensana Kangujam, Sumit; Forwards: S.V. Sunil (vice-captain), Akashdeep Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar, Gurjant Singh, Satbir Singh

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4:55 pm. India's starting XI is out: Suraj Karkera, Harmanpreet Singh, Surender Kumar, Gujrant Singh, Dipsan Tirkey, Lalit Upadhayay, SK Uthappa, Varun Kumar, Akashdeep Singh, Manpreet Singh, Chinglensana Kangujam

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4:45 pm. A win today will give India a good chance to qualify for the title round before the final Super 4 game against Pakistan. But India can't afford to take the Malaysians likely, especially considering their untypically circumspect game against the Koreans.

Malaysians are likely to go for similar tactics employed by the Koreans — frustrate Indians with resolute defending. But this Malaysian outfit is one of the fittest teams in the tournament and its players love to play attacking hockey. Evidently, they have scored 16 goals, which is one more than the Indians scored in the pool games.

They then registered their first-ever win over Pakistan in Asia Cup yesterday in a five-goal thriller. Interestingly, Malaysians clobbered Myanmar 14-0 to clinch their 16th SEA Games gold.

There's everything to play for.

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Quick Preview:

Favourites India played an indifferent game against the defending champions South Korea in their Super 4 opener, thus denying themselves a win for the first time in the tournament. But Malaysians have won their match, beating three-time champions Pakistan. India will look for an improved performance today.

Thanks to a 1-1 draw between South Korea and Pakistan in the day's first Super 4 match, India now stand a chance to top the table when they take on a confident Malaysian side at Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium, Dhaka.

As things stand now, Malaysia (1st) and India (3rd) have three and one points respectively from one match each, while Korea (2nd) and Pakistan (4th) have two and one points respectively from two matches each.

The two top teams after the end of round three will play in the final.

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New Delhi: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Super 4 match between India and Malaysia of Hockey Asia Cup 2017 in Dhaka.