Chak De: India beat Malaysia 3-1,in Azlan Shah Cup

India pulled off a brilliant 3-1 victory over hosts Malaysia to clinch the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament here in Ipoh. It was India’s fourth Azlan Shah victory. The earlier wins had come in 1985, 91 and 95.

Arjun Halappa won the man-of-the match award and rightfully so. Arjun was brilliant on the right flank and created almost six to seven moves.
Sandeep Singh won the top scorer award with seven goals in the tournament.

For India the scorers were Arjun Halappa, Prabhjot Singh and Shivender Singh. For Malaysia the goal came through Azlan Misron.

After an indifferent tournament with some dreary draws and tough wins, India for the first time played without a cluttered mind. They were creative in the midfield and a special word of praise for Gurbaz Singh who initially tore apart the Malaysian defence with his breathtaking moves on the right flank. It was later that Ignace, Sardara and Arjun dominated the Indian midfield.

Dilip Tirkey playing his 406th match was his old self. Rarely did he lose a ball or missed a tackle and in the second half, he snatched a ball away from Malaysia’s Kelvinder Singh and on the line dribbled past three Malaysian forwards to clear it. It would be a win that Dilip would remember forever.

Malaysia seemed to have learnt their lessons well from the 0-3 defeat to India in the league phase. They attacked from the word go, using both the flanks and a sturdy midfield propped it up well. India was rattled in the initial minutes as the defence found itself stretched. After the first five minutes, India settled down, killed the pace of the game and started their own build-up.

It was a Tushar Khandekar move that set up the opening goal. Tushar picked up the ball in the midfield and sent Arjun Hallappa through. Arjun’s pass found an overlapping Prabhjot who cut past two defenders and gave the ball back to Arjun on the left flank. Arjun’s tap towards the goal went in off Malaysian defender Baljit Singh’s stick for India to lead 1-0.

Malaysia refused to be drawn into their own defensive shell. They came out and took the game to the Indians attacking with zest and fervour. The reward came in the 11th minute when a goalmouth melee saw Azlan Misron crack the ball into the Indian goal as the packed Azlan Shah stadium came alive with the beating of drums.

Malaysia earned their first penalty corner a minute later and Sandeep Singh was struck on the wrist by the flick. Sandeep was off the pitch for five minutes as he needed an ice pack and came back with his wrist bandaged.
The counter-attacking continued from both the sides. Gurbaz was the fulcrum for India as he made stunning moves from the right flank, overlapping constantly and giving the Malaysian defence a torrid time.

With Ignace moving to the central midfield, India started to mount dangerous moves. In the 20th minute, Ignace gave a through to Gurbaz on the right whose shot cut through the Malaysian defence and found Prabhjot whose tap entered goal. India led 2-1.

The scoreline could have easily been up another goal in the 29th minute when after a Malaysian defence lapse, Prabhjot had the ball and ample space to take a hard shot but the ball sped past the post.

The Indian attacks continued as Ignace, Gurbaz and Sardara Singh turned on the power in the midfield. India earned their first penalty corner in the 31st minute but Sandeep’s flick went wide off the mark. With two minutes left for the break, Tushar’s cracking shot from the right flank was missed by both Shivender and Prabhjot.
At the break, India led 2-1.

Malaysia had a super opportunity in the 39th minute when Sandeep Singh made an error while passing and gave it away to Azlan Misron with only the goalkeeper Baljit Singh behind him. Baljit charged out and made a brilliant save diving to the right to swat the ball away.

Two minutes later India attacked on the right flank as Arjun Hallappa raced down and his reverse shot was taken on the pads by the Malaysian goalkeeper. But Shivender picked up the rebound and in a flash shot in for India to lead 3-1.

Any other opponent would have probably caved in under the sheer pressure of the Indian midfield but Malaysia showed enormous courage and counter-attacking power to keep the Indian defence constantly back-pedaling.

Another attack into the Indian half gave Malaysia their second penalty corner but Baljit Singh saved by diving to his right and deflecting the ball away.

Malaysia had a chance to cut the scores down when Pakistan umpire Zulfiqar Haidar gave a penalty corner even when it was clear that the ball had been cleanly stopped by Prabodh Tirkey on the stick. But Baljit again saved the Malaysian flick by taking the ball on the glove and deflecting it.

The Indian team did a lap of honour and carried Dilip Tirkey off the field, dedicating this Azlan Shah victory to the veteran defender who was playing his 406th match.

India held the ball in the remaining minutes rotating the pass around the midfield and creating moves on the flanks as time ran out on the Malaysians.