IPOH (Malaysia): Conceding last-minute desires have endured to hang out with India for a lengthy now, and that is precisely what the group would look to keep away from when it takes on its new-observed ‘nemesis Malaysia in its third league match of the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament here on Tuesday.
After a now not-so-convincing 2-0 win over Asian Games gold medallist Japan in the tournament opener, Manpreet Singh and his guys conceded an aim in the match’s final minute to attract 1-1 towards Korea on Sunday.
India is currently located third in the six-crew standings with 4 points after a win and a draw. Hosts Malaysia is central to the chart with the most points after five-1 and a 4-3 victory over Poland and Japan.
Korea is in the 2nd role with four factors, equal to India, but they advanced the 8-time Olympic gold medallists due to higher purpose distinction.
On Sunday, India was well on its way to their second consecutive win in the match after taking the lead inside the twenty-eighth minute through Mandeep Singh. But protecting blunders, just 22 seconds from the very last hooter, enabled Jonghyun Jang to equalize from a penalty corner.
And come Tuesday, the Indians can sick have enough money to copy similar mistakes, especially against a side like Malaysia, which, in the current beyond, has over and overexploited such grey regions to retain to stay a thorn within the flesh for the Blue Sticks.
Considered a dark horse in Asian hockey for a long time, Malaysia has again confirmed its capabilities by provoking massive groups, at least on the continental stage, while it mattered.
It all started again in 2010, when Malaysia bowled over India four with a last-minute intention in the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games semifinals.
Eight years later, the Malaysians again inflicted but no other ache on the Indians. This time, India conceded an ultimate-minute aim within the semifinals of the Jakarta Asian Games to allow their opponents to attract degree and, in the end, win the stumble up in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
Former India instructor and High-Performance Director Roelant Oltmans, Malaysia, is a sensible tactician aware of Indian hockey’s inside and outside.
Penalty corner professional Muhammad Razie Rahim is a call that the Indian crew would be cautious of as this 31-12 months vintage flattened India on more than one occasion, including in the Asian Games semifinal in Jakarta. Although Rahim has scored just as soon as within the tournament, the Indian defense, led by Birendra Lakra and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, wants to be extremely cautious come Tuesday.
Besides, the Indian defense may even preserve at bay the ‘Saari brothers’ — Fitri and Faizal — especially those who have already scored a hat-trick and are presently the leading scorer within the opposition with five desires.
But the Indians can take coronary heart because it is the same Malaysian aspect that they harassed given the same venue in the final edition of the event in 2018.
All said and completed; the Indians could be eyeing a massive win to gain the Malaysians on Tuesday, which might no longer be more to bolster their morale but to lift them inside the factors table.
Meanwhile, in different circumstances, Japan will play Canada simultaneously, while South Africa may be up against Korea.
