India’s striker SV Sunil tries to get past a Malaysian player during their Asian Champions Trophy league match at Al Rayyan Stadium yesterday. Malaysia won 5-3. In another match, Pakistan defeated Japan 5-2. India will clash with Pakistan in the final today at 7.30pm. PICTURE BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT
BY ARMSTRONG VAS
Doha: Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will clash in the final of the Asian Champions Trophy final today at Al Rayyan Stadium.
Already through to the final, defending champions India suffered a shock 5-3 defeat at the hands of Malaysia in their last and inconsequential league match, while Pakistan registered a hard fought 5-2 win over Japan.
India’s loss to Malaysia was their first loss of the tournament, which had a booked a place in the final after their fourth round match against Pakistan 2-1 on Monday.
India finished their league engagements with 12 points from five matches, with four wins and one loss.
Despite their win in their fifth and last round match of the round-robin tournament the Malaysians could not qualify for the final. Pakistan made the grade with a better goal difference.
Both Malaysia and Pakistan finished with ten points with three wins, one loss and one draw.
Going into yesterday’s matches, both Malaysia and Pakistan needed wins and by clear margins to qualify for the final.
Malaysia had a slight advantage of playing the last match of the day. The mathematical equation for them was clear. They needed to win by a six-goal margin against India to stop Pakistan from making it to the final.
The Paul Revington coached side raised visions of an upset win and too by a handsome margin in the first half by going into the first half break leading 3-0.
They were cruising along with a 4-0 lead in the 38th minute. But India doused the Malaysian fire late in the game with three goals, denying them a big victory required to make it to the final.
The Indians did not rest any of their key players but were cautious in their approach against the Malaysians.
The Indian defence which had looked solid through the tournament, having conceded just two goals in four matches, caved in thrice in the first half much to the surprise of a few Pakistan supporters.
Malaysia took the lead after missing out two penalty corners earlier. Following the abortive second penalty corner, the Malaysians made use of a long corner to go up (1-0).
Within a minute, Abdullah Shahrun Nabil increased the lead. Young forward Fitri stunned Indian goalie PR Sreejesh with a reverse hit to strengthen the lead to three nil in the 27th minute.
Within three minutes after change of sides, Faizal Saari made it 4-0 for Malaysia when he ran down from the right flank to beat Raghunath before finding the target.
The Indians however bounced back in the second half to score three goals which made thing difficult for the Malaysians to qualify for the final. India woke up late with Brendra Lakra striking first in the 47th minute. He latched onto a long corner and had all the time in the world to whack the ball past Malaysian goalie (4-1). Newcomer Pradhan Sommana set up SV Sunil to reduce the margin. He sent a cross from the left flank which Sunil connected to make it 4-2 in the 62nd minute.
Raghunath, who missed many penalty corners, provided much relief with a goal in the next minute (4-3). However, the Malaysians who drew three-all with Pakistan but lost to China 2-1 were not ready to throw in the towel and kept fighting. Malaysia kept up the attack and got dividends when Azammi Adabi scored through a laborious field effort (5-3).
In the end Malaysia had to settle for a 5-3 win.
In the second match yesterday, Pakistan aided by a brace from Muhammad Waqas and Abdul Haseem Khan overcame a spirited challenge from Japan.
At one point, Japan were leading 2-1, but Pakistan, who were strengthen by the return of captain Muhammed Imran in the defence, rallied to post a 5-2 win.
The Champions Trophy bronze medal winners started on a rosy note with a field goal in the very first minute through Waqas.
Pakistan could hold on to the lead for just seven minutes as Heita Yoshihara struck success with his penalty conversion beating Pakistan goalkeeper Imran Butt with a clean strike.
Goaded by the success, Japan pressed hard and managed to gain a break through with a penalty corner, with Toshiro Tachibana making no mistake with his try.
Thereafter, Japan fell back to defend the lead but managed to keep the marauding Pakistan players at bay for a few minutes.
But not for long, experienced campaigner Shakeel Abassi sounded the board with a clean strike for a field goal, with a minute left for the first half hooter.
On resumption, Pakistan took the lead, for the second time in the match, with Waqas scoring his second goal of the match.
Pakistan made the issue beyond doubt by adding two more goals in the 44th and 63rd minute.
In the first match yesterday, China hammered Oman 7-1.
Today, Oman and Japan will clash for positions 5-6, while China and Malaysia will vie for the bronze medal.
The Peninsula
