KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s World Cup hopes hang in the balance after a 4-1 defeat to hosts India at the Asia Cup in Bihar on Thursday. The Speedy Tigers must now beat South Korea on Saturday to stay alive in the tournament.
World No. 12 Malaysia had stunned world No. 8 India by taking a second-minute lead through Shafiq Hassan’s reverse stick strike, which flew past goalkeeper Pathak Krishnan Bahadur.
But India, who needed victory to stay in the hunt for the final, responded with three goals in seven minutes.
Manpreet Singh levelled in the 17th minute, pouncing on a rebound from Hafizuddin Othman’s pads, before Sukhjeet Singh put them ahead two minutes later.
Shilanand Lakra then made it 3-1 in the 24th minute with a neat deflection from Dilpreet Singh’s pass.
India continued to press after the break and Vivek Sagar Prasad added a fourth in the 38th minute.
Malaysia earned two penalty corners but failed to convert, while India made one count from their six attempts.
Earlier, China thrashed defending champions South Korea 3-0 — a result that leaves the Koreans bottom of the Super Four standings with a single point.
India top the group with four, followed by China (three), Malaysia (three), and Korea (one).
The top two teams in the Super Four stage will battle in the Asia Cup final on Sunday, with the champions qualifying for next year’s World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
