In a tough and competitive match on Tuesday, the Indian hockey team beat the lower ranked Malaysia 2-1 to enter into the Commonwealth Games semi-finals.
While Faizal Saari scored once for Malaysia in the 16th minute, that was the only goal Malaysia could manage.
For India, Drag Flick ace Harmanpreet Singh pulled off two goals in the 3rd and 44th minutes from penalty corners to lead India to victory in the highly competitive match.
Nine penalties were earned by the Indian hockey team, the first one coming in the second minute itself and that is when Harmanpreet scored the first goal for India, to give India a decisive lead.
When Malaysia got a penalty of their own in the 6th minute it was Razie Rahim who missed the goal post and thus missing out a golden opportunity to equal India.
Although India was leading from the front, Malaysia dint have to wait too long for a goal as Faizal Saari hit a field goal in the sixteenth minute of the game.
In the 18th minute, India earned another penalty but Varun Kumar missed the goal post and thus wasted the penalty which was India’s chance to regain its lead over Malaysia.
Another close chance was missed when Mandeep Singh tried to score in the 22nd minute but was defended successfully by Malaysian goalkeeper Hairi Rahman.
Saving two penalties, India’s PR Sreejesh defended the goal post successfully, keeping a strong front and saving many goals, especially with the Malaysian onslaught in the second half.
Harmanpreet missed a hattrick chance when his penalty corner shot was successfully defended by Rahman in the 58th minute of the game.
Indian Hockey fans are thrilled with the development and are eagerly waiting for the semi-finals and praying for the team to win and enter the finals of the Commonwealth Games.
ALSO READ – THIRD COMMONWEALTH GOLD FOR INDIA
