India secured a hard-fought 4–3 win over hosts Malaysia in a pulsating contest at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup on Wednesday.
Goals from Selvam Karthi (7’), Sukhjeet Singh (21’), Amit Rohidas (39’) and captain Sanjay (53’) ensured India picked up a crucial victory in what proved to be one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament so far. Malaysia kept the hosts in the contest through strikes from Faizal Saari (13’), Fitri Saari (36’) and Marhan Jalil (45’), but could not prevent India from emerging deserved winners.
India began the match with clear attacking intent, pushing Malaysia deep into their own half from the very first minute. Their high tempo paid dividends early, with the team earning a Penalty Corner inside the opening three minutes. Although Malaysia managed to defend the initial threat, India maintained pressure with disciplined ball circulation and sharp movement in the final third.
The breakthrough arrived in the 7th minute when a slick combination saw Sukhjeet Singh create space inside the circle before laying the ball off for Selvam Karthi, who tapped in from close range to give India a 1–0 lead.
Despite India’s dominance in the opening exchanges, a defensive lapse allowed Malaysia back into the contest. A green card to Yashdeep Siwach gifted the hosts both numerical advantage and a Penalty Corner. India’s defence looked well positioned, but an unfortunate deflection wrong-footed the goalkeeper, enabling Faizal Saari to equalise in the 13th minute. The first quarter ended 1–1, a scoreline that did not fully reflect India’s early control.
India resumed their assertive approach in the second quarter, continuing to suffocate Malaysia with aggressive pressing and quick turnovers. Their persistence was rewarded in the 21st minute when Sukhjeet Singh restored the lead. Abhishek’s powerful attempt ricocheted kindly to Sukhjeet, who calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper. India created a couple more scoring opportunities before half-time, but Malaysia held firm to keep the deficit at 2–1 heading into the break.
The third quarter mirrored the intensity of the first, with India immediately earning a Penalty Corner. However, they were unable to make it count, and Malaysia seized momentum when Jugraj Singh received a green card in the 34th minute. With a man advantage, the hosts pushed forward and equalised through Fitri Saari in the 36th minute. India, however, wasted no time responding. In the 39th minute, veteran defender Amit Rohidas stepped up during a Penalty Corner and produced a composed finish, reaffirming India’s lead at 3–2.
The match continued to swing dramatically, and India were forced into defensive mode when Selvam Karthi received a yellow card in the 43rd minute, reducing them to ten men for an extended period. Malaysia capitalised on the pressure, drawing level yet again on the cusp of the third-quarter buzzer. Captain Marhan Jalil timed his run perfectly, guiding the ball home to make it 3–3 heading into the final quarter.
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With the contest finely poised, both sides entered the final 15 minutes with a clear hunger for the winner. Malaysia nearly went ahead early in the quarter, but India’s goalkeeper Pawan produced a stunning reflex save to deny what looked like a certain goal. The decisive moment arrived in the 53rd minute when India earned a penalty stroke. Skipper Sanjay stepped up with confidence and dispatched the ball clinically into the net, putting India ahead for the fourth time.
The final minutes demanded discipline from India as Malaysia pushed forward aggressively, earning late Penalty Corners in search of another equaliser. India’s defensive unit held its shape admirably, showing composure under pressure to close out the match. The final whistle confirmed India’s 4–3 triumph, a result that not only showcased their attacking prowess but also highlighted their resilience in key moments.
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With this win, India gain momentum ahead of their next group-stage match. They face New Zealand on 27 November at 1330 hrs IST. All matches of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 are streaming live on FanCode.
