M'sia fail to make final for Asian Champions Trophy

Malaysia failed to qualify for the final of the Asian Champions Trophy despite beating defending champions India 5-3 in a pulsating match at the Al Rayyan Hockey Stadium in Doha late Wednesday. On the other hand, Pakistan marched into their second final on a superior goal difference compared to Malaysia, after defeating Japan 5-2 in an earlier match.

The national side had needed to win by a six-goal margin against India to book a place in the final.

Paul Revington's boys' dominated the early part of the match and it paid off when Mohd Fitri Saari put the national side ahead in the 18th minute before Mohd Azlan Misron doubled the score, two minutes later through a penalty corner.

Mohd Fitri bagged his second goal in the 27th minute to give the Malaysia a comfortable 3-0 lead.

National forward Mohd Faisal Saari then got into the scoring act after he found the mark in the 38th minute to make it 4-0.

Birendra Lakra, however, pulled one back for India in the 47th minute before SV Sunil reduced the deficit in the 62nd minute.

India's defender VR Ragunath scored a penalty corner in the very next minute to make it 4-3.

The fifth goal scored by Azammi Abadi in the 68th minute did not give much hope for the national side as they had earlier lost 1-2 against minnows China in their fourth match on Monday.

In another match, China defeated Oman 7-1. India and Pakistan will meet in the final while Malaysia will get a chance to exact revenge against China in the bronze medal playoff on Thursday. Malaysia finished third last year in the first edition of the tournament in Ordos, China after edging Japan 1-0 while India pipped Pakistan 4-2 on penalties to take the title.