India showcased their dominance in the Asian Champions Trophy 2024 with a resounding 8-1 victory over Malaysia, thanks to a brilliant hat-trick from Rajkumar Pal.
The match, held on Wednesday, saw India assert their superiority right from the first half, leaving Malaysia with little chance to make a comeback. By halftime, India had already built a commanding 5-0 lead, with goals from Rajkumar Pal, Harmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, and Araijeet Singh Hundal.
Rajkumar Pal’s Hat-trick seals deal
Rajkumar Pal completed his hat-trick in the third quarter, taking full advantage of a defensive error by the Malaysian goalkeeper.
His performance was crucial in keeping India’s momentum going. The third goal was an example of his precision and opportunism, as he capitalised on a Malaysian mistake, extending India’s lead to 6-0.
Malaysia’s lone response
Malaysia managed to get on the scoreboard in the 34th minute through Akhimullah, who slotted one past India’s defence. However, this was merely a consolation goal as India quickly responded, with Hundal scoring his second goal of the match just five minutes later, making it 7-1.
Final flourish by Uttam Singh
India didn’t stop there. In the 41st minute, Uttam Singh found the back of the net, bringing the score to 8-1. India’s Jugraj Singh’s penalty corner flick was blocked, but a determined effort from Vivek ensured the ball stayed in play, leading to Uttam’s well-placed shot. The match was essentially over at this point, with India controlling possession in the final quarter.
India’s consistent form in Asian Champions Trophy
This victory solidified India’s reputation as favourites in the tournament. They had already won their previous matches against China (3-0) and Japan (5-1), displaying consistent form throughout the tournament.
India’s comprehensive win over Malaysia, ranked 13th in the world, comes as no surprise, given the team’s current standing as Olympic bronze medallists and their determination to defend their Asian Champions Trophy title for a record-extending fifth time.
History of Close Contests: India vs Malaysia
While India’s victory this time was one-sided, recent encounters between the two teams had been much closer. The last time India and Malaysia faced each other, in the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy final, India had to overturn a 3-1 deficit at halftime to eventually win 4-3. Another thrilling match took place in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, where India triumphed 4-2. However, Malaysia still harbours memories of their upset win in the 2018 Asian Games, where they knocked India out in a dramatic penalty shootout.
India’s victory against Malaysia in the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy cements their status as favourites to win the tournament. As they prepare for the next stage, the team will be keen to maintain their high level of performance and secure another title. With Rajkumar Pal’s hat-trick and the all-round contributions from the rest of the squad, India’s confidence will be high going into the final stages of the competition.
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