PIX: India march into semis with epic win over Pakistan

Images from India's match against Pakistan in the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai on Wednesday. 

Skipper Harmanpreet Singh struck twice from penalty corners as a dominant India thrashed arch-rivals Pakistan 4-0 to maintain their unbeaten run in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Chennai on Wednesday.

Having already sealed their semifinal spot before the match, India played confidently and completely dominated the match, while Pakistan were always playing catch-up.

Harmanpreet handed India the lead converting the team's first penalty corner with a powerful low flick to the left of Pakistan goalkeeper Akmal Hussain just at the stroke of the first quarter.

India won their second penalty corner in the 23rd minute and Harmanpreet scored with a fierce drag-flick in between Pakistan goalkeeper Akmal's legs.

India continued to put pressure on Pakistan defence with constant attacks and in the process earned back-to-back penalty corners in the 30th minute but Harmanpreet failed on both occasion.

The Indians, however, asked for a video referral from the second opportunity claiming that the ball was heading into the goal and was stopped by Pakistan player's foot but the video referee rejected the home team's appeal.

India led Pakistan 2-0 at half-time.

Six minutes into the third quarter, India secured their third penalty corner and this time Jugraj Singh made no mistake to hand the hosts a comfortable 3-0 lead.

Pakistan earned a rare penalty corner, their second, in the 43rd minute but wasted the opportunity.

India made the scoreline 4-0 in their favour in the 55th minute when Akashdeep Singh deflected in Mandeep Singh's strike.

India earned five penalty corners in the match and converted three out of them.

Malaysia beat South Korea 1-0 

Malaysia came up with a spirited performance to edge past defending champions South Korea 1-0 during their round-robin match of the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy Hockey in Chennai on Wednesday.

Abu Kamal Azrai scored the winner in a contest that was academic in nature with both countries having already sealed semi-final berth.

The first quarter was a slow start from both sides, while Malaysia won the tie's opening penalty corner, which was saved by the Korean goalkeeper.

After a chance each, there was nothing to separate the two teams at the end of the first quarter in which Malaysian skipper Marhan Jalil and Amirul Azahar were warned with green-cards.

In the 22nd minute, an unmarked Abu Kamal Azrai slapped the ball home to give the Malaysians the lead.

Malaysia kept its slender lead going into half-time.

After the change of ends, Malaysia continued to be the better side in terms of number of raids into the opposition's defensive third.

However, the Korean defence managed to hold out till the end of the quarter. While Azahar saw a yellow card in this quarter, Korean captain Manjae Jung saw a green.

The final quarter witnessed the Malaysians switching to a defensive mode, while the Koreans were dominating with possession.

However, the Koreans failed to get past the sturdy Malaysian defence. A short corner was not enough to draw them on level terms, whereas a PC appeal through video referral was also rejected by the TV umpire.

Eventually, it was a 1-0 triumph for Malaysia, which has risen to the table-top ahead of the India-Pakistan meet.

Japan beat China 2-1

Japan edged past China 2-1 in their final round robin league match in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament on Wednesday.

All the three goals in the match came via penalty corners. For Japan, Shota Yamada (8th minute) and Kentaro Fukuda (54th) found the net, while China's lone goal was scored by Suozhu Ao in the 57th minute.