In a comeback to remember for ages, India beat Malaysia 4-3 to win the Asian Champions Trophy for the fourth time. Trailing 1-3 in the third quarter, India caught Malaysia napping and netted two goals in a single minute to make an epic comeback in Chennai.
The match started with Malaysia setting an aggressive tone, putting the Indians on the back foot. However, India broke the deadlock in the 9th minute when Jugraj unleashed a powerful flick in a penalty conversion, outfoxing the Malaysian goalkeeper.
But Malaysia quickly regrouped and consistently challenged India's defence. Their persistence paid off in the 14th minute, with Azari scoring, assisted by Azuan Hasan's precise pass.
The first quarter's end saw India squandering two penalty corner opportunities. The second quarter wasn't kind to the home team either. Rahim capitalized on a penalty corner in the 18th minute, thanks to a deflection from India's Amit Rohidas. By the 28th minute, Malaysia had extended their lead to 3-1 with Aminudin's successful penalty corner conversion.
Post half-time, India looked desperate to level the scores but struggled with conversions. Their efforts to gain penalty corners either missed the mark or were denied by vigilant Malaysian defenders.
However, a turning point came in the 45th minute. India's captain, Harmanpreet, swiftly converted a penalty stroke, followed almost immediately by Gurjant's field goal, leveling the game at 3-3.
The climax was a nail-biter. India earned several penalty corners in the dying minutes, with Harmanpreet missing narrowly on two occasions. But the breakthrough came from Akashdeep, who fired the winning goal with a crisp slap shot, assisted by Mandeep Singh.
As the clock ticked down, India intensified their offensive, forcing the Malaysian goalkeeper into making some exceptional saves.
This riveting match showcased India's resilience and Malaysia's tactical prowess, making it a treat for hockey enthusiasts.
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