Kuantan (Malaysia): In-form drag-flick expert Rupinder Pal Singh scored a brace as top-ranked India eked out a 2-1 win over Malaysia to secure the top spot in the round-robin stage in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here Wednesday.
Rupinder, who had scored eight goals before this match, gave world No.6 India the lead in the 12th minute but Razie Rahim equalised for world No.14 Malaysia in the 18th minute. However, Rupinder once again stepped up to convert a penalty corner to make it 2-1.
With this win, Roelant Oltmans-coached India have 13 points having played all the five games, while Malaysia remained in the second spot with nine points from four games. Meanwhile, South Korea sealed a spot in the semifinals following a 4-3 win over Japan.
Rupinder gave India a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute when the Punjab set-piece specialist scored on a rebound after his penalty corner flick hit the side bar and fell just in front of him.
A couple of minutes into the second quarter, Affan Yousuf wasted a chance of putting India 2-0 up as Akashdeep set him up with just Subramaniam to beat but the former fired it over.
But the Malaysians levelled from the penalty corner as Razie flicked past young Indian custodian Akash Chikte, who was standing in for injured captain PR Sreejesh, in the 18th minute. Chikte quickly fell down during an untimely jump and it allowed Razie to send the ball over him.
After the 10-minute break, India made numerous goal-scoring chances in the third quarter but the goal didn’t come. But India hit back in a fierce attack and earned a penalty corner which was duly converted by Rupinder with just 2.15 minutes left on the clock, stunning the home fans.
Indo-Asian News Service
