Hockey side hit Malaysia for four, are 2nd on table

Ipoh (Malaysia), March 26: India struck four times after a goal-less first quarter to tame hosts Malaysia 4-2, climbing to the second spot in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament, here on Tuesday.

Sumit Kumar (17th min), Sumit Kumar junior (27th min), drag flicker Varun Kumar (36 min) and Mandeep Singh (58th min) found the net for India.

Razie Rahim (27th min) and Firhan Ashari (57th min) scored for the hosts.

With two wins and a draw, India moved up to the second position in the table with seven points behind Korea (7). India had beaten Japan 2-0 in the first match before playing a 1-1 draw against Korea.

Sumit got the right deflection to help India take an important 1-0 lead in the 17th minute.

Soon Malaysia won their second PC of the match and Razie Rahim did not disappoint the home crowd as he struck low to give Malaysia an equaliser in the 21st minute.

A good tackle by Sumit to dispossess Malaysia’s Faizal Saari set-up India’s second goal. This time it was Sumit Kumar Jr who put the ball past Malaysia goalkeeper Hairi Rahman in the 27th minute.

Mandeep Singh won India another important penalty corner. Taken by dragflicker Varun Kumar, he scored on a re-take with a powerful flick, keeping the ball low to the left. The 3-1 lead put pressure on the hosts.

Malaysia scored a field goal through Firhan Ashari in the 57th minute.

In the 58th minute, a brilliant circle entry and assist by Sumit Kumar Jr to Mandeep Singh helped him score India’s fourth goal ending the match on 4-2. — PTI