KUANTAN: Faizal Saari scored twice as hosts Malaysia rallied to stun defen­ding champions Pakistan 4-2 in the opening match of the fourth Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament at the Kuantan Hockey Stadium on Thursday.

In the second match of the day, India thrashed Japan 10-2 thanks to skipper Rupinder Pal Singh’s six goals. Ramandeep added two goals to the tally while Talwinder and Yousuf Affan scored one each.

Malaysia’s Saari converted a penalty stroke in the 37th minute and capitalised on a penalty corner rebound in the dying seconds.

Asian Champions Trophy begins

Two other Malaysian goals — from Firhan Ansari and Shahril Saabah — also came off penalty corner rebounds that left the Pakistan defence shattered.

Both goals for Pakistan, winners of the last two editions of Asian Champions Trophy, were scored by penalty corner strikes from Aleem Bilal.

Malaysia took the initial lead in the 13th minute of play from their first penalty corner.

Razie Rahim’s penalty corner drive was blocked by Pakistan goalkeeper Imran Butt, but the rebound went to Firhan Ansari who slotted the ball into the boards.

Pakistan equalised five minutes later as Bilal stunned the Malaysian goalkeeper with a brilliant shot.

Bilal was on target again four minutes after half-time with a firm drive to put Pakistan in the lead.

Pakistan enjoyed the lead until the 37th minute when the game had to be stopped due to heavy showers. Play resumed after a 20-minute break and Malaysia mounted a raid into the Pakistan circle within a minute.

Malaysia’s raid earned them a penalty stroke, but only after they sought a TV referral which showed that the Pakistani goalkeeper had obstructed striker Aiman Nik Rosemi in the goalmouth. The stroke was duly converted by Saari to draw 2-2 parity.

Going into an all-out attack, Malaysia forced two successive penalty corners in the 41st minute and Saabah capitalised on a rebound from the custodian to put Malaysia into the lead.

Saari came into the scoring act again in the last minute when Pakistan conceded a penalty corner through a rough tackle on their right flank. Pakistan goalkeeper Butt blocked the penalty corner shot, but Saari was not to be denied on the rebound.

India took 4-0 lead in the first quarter. Ramandeep with a perfect touch inside the area created room and then had enough time to compose himself to take a shot inside the corner in the first two minutes.

Rupinder doubled the lead with a booming strike in the right corner during a penalty corner.

He once again converted a penalty corner but this time there’s luck involved. Got a big deflection from an on-rushing Japanese shirt and it made its way into the back of the net.

Ramandeep got his second and took India to 4-0.

Japan had their consolation goal in the second quarter. Sardar Singh lost the ball in the centre circle and Japan quickly pounced on it for a counter. Kenta slided home the ball and India led 7-1 at the end of second quarter.

Japan got another goal against the run of play. Bit of a squirmish inside the India defensive area and bit of luck came to Japan’s aid. India’s lead was reduced further as it became 7-2 in the second half.

India entered the final quarter with the lead of 7-2 and hit three more goals in the final 15 minutes to complete the 10-2 scoreline.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2016