Asia Cup Hockey: India's 9-1 win over Bangladesh in group B, as it happened

19:55 (IST) The goalscorers for India: Rupinderpal Singh (3rd minute, 19th, 27th, 61st), VR Raghunath (29th, 52nd, 59th), Nikkin Thimmaiah (24th) and Mandeep Singh (47th). Goalscorer for Bangladesh: Md. Mamunur Rahman Chayan (34th) [Read Match Report]

 

19:45 (IST) Rupinderpal Singh struck four goals and VR Raghunath netted a hat-trick as India's 9-1 win over Bangladesh in the final group B match helps them top the table. India will now take on hosts Malaysia in the semi-final on Friday. Pakistan take on red-hot Korea in the other semis.

 

19:40 (IST) It's full-time and India crush Bangladesh 9-1.

 

19:31 (IST) GOAL! It's raining goals from India, who make it 9-1 over Bangladesh. Rupinderpal Singh (61st minute) nets his 4th goal of the game as he flicks it hard over the goalkeeper, converting from a penalty corner.

 

19:28 (IST) GOAL! Raghunath completes a hat-trick in the 59th minute, flicking it easily over the Bangladesh goalie. as India make it 8-1.

 

19:21 (IST) GOAL! India make it 7-1. VR Raghunath converts from a penalty corner and nets his second goal of the night, in the 52nd minute. The PC was setup by excellent attacking work from the baseline by the Indians.

 

19:15 (IST) GOAL! Mandeep Singh makes it 6-1 for India in the 47th minute. A wonderful team work by both forwards Malak Singh and Mandeep and the latter has his first goal of the evening.

 

19:12 (IST) It has been a quiet second half so far with both teams showing tight defence. Moisur Rahman of Bangladesh and Gurmail Singh of India received green cards.

 

18:55 (IST): India converted three goals from six penalty corners while Bangladesh have one from one. But India, as expected, have dominated the half.

 

18:53 (IST): GOAL! Bangladesh pull one back in the 35th minute as the first half ends 5-1 in India's favour. Bangladesh skipper Chayan scores from a penalty corner, the only one his team got in the first session. It was a perfect finish by Chayan. The pace, the height and the angle of the ball defeated India's experienced goalie Sreejesh.

 

18:47 (IST) GOAL! It's India all the way. Bangladesh are adopting crowding tactics but conceding penalty corners. Raghunath makes it 5-0 in the 29th minute, converting a short corner. Simple trap and finish at the top corner. The Bangladesh goalie Zahid Hossain is completely at sea.

 

18:44 (IST) GOAL! Rupinderpal completes his hattrick from a stroke. It's 4-nil in the 27th minute.

 

18:40 (IST) GOAL! India make it 3-0 in the 25th minute. Nithin Thimmaiah scores a field goal, his maiden international goal. The goal came from a nothing move. Nithin scored with a diving backhander from top of the box.

18:35 (IST) GOAL! India stretch their lead to 2-0 in the 19th minute. Rupinderpal scores his second one from a penalty corner, India's fourth in the match. This goal came from a lovely set-piece as the Bangladeshis were foxed by a lovely dummy run. Rupinder picked his spot very well and his scorching push hit the far corner of the net. Lovely finish!

 

18:31 (IST) India earn another PC. Will India make it 2-0? Bangladesh goalie and defenders getting ready.

 

18:27 (IST) India waste two back-to-back penalty corners in the 14th minute. Both Raghunath efforts well saved. The first one was by the goalie and the second one deflected by skipper Md Chayan bang on the goalline.

 

18:21 (IST) It's raining in Ipoh. This will impact the pace of the match. Bangladesh happy to get the ball away from their half. But Indians are quick on the rebound.

 

18:18 (IST) GOAL! India draw first blood in the fourth minute. Rupinderpal Singh scores from the first penalty corner India get. A firm push goes through the legs of the Bangladesh goalie.

 

18:15 (IST) India are off to an attacking start.

 

18:13 (IST) India make three changes in the line-up with Sardar, Malak Singh and Nithin Thimmaiah starting the match. A few players have niggles and are not being risked. The umpires for this match are a Japanese and a Malaysian. This should be an easy match for India. Bangladesh lost to Oman 4-2 and were beaten 9-0 by Korea.

 

18:08 (IST): India and Bangladesh line up at the Azlan Shah Stadium for the national anthems.

 

17:43 (IST): Next up: India vs Bangladesh. India have a 6-0 win-loss record against their sub-continental neighbours. India need a win to top their pool.

 

Korea thrash Oman 10-0 with Jang Jong Hyun scoring a hattrick. Korea are through to the semifinals and will play Pakistan.

 

17:38 (IST) Team news: Sardar Singh likely to start in Playing XI for the first time in the tournament. The Indian captain has been suffering from fever and has played intermittently in the Asia Cup so far.

The India vs Bangladesh match will be delayed. The match between Oman and Korea started late due to heavy rain.

 

Match Preview:

After back-to-back victories against Oman and defending champions South Korea, the Indians are brimming with confidence but they cannot afford to relax in the eight-nation tournament, which they need to win to qualify for next year's World Cup at The Hague, Netherlands. India sealed their semifinal place after shocking South Korea 2-0 in their second Pool B match at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh, Malaysia on Monday.

A win against Bangladesh would ensure India top Pool B which means they will most likely take on hosts Malaysia in the semifinals and avoid arch-rivals Pakistan till the final hurdle.

Defeating Bangladesh shouldn't be much of a problem for Dutchman Roelant Oltmans' boys as the Tigers' would be morally down after consecutive defeats, especially Monday's 2-4 loss against Oman, a side which is five places below them in the world rankings. Bangladesh had earlier lost 0-9 to Korea in their opening tie.

 

Squads:

India  - Sardar Singh (Captain), Amit Rohidas, Birendra Lakra, Chandanda Aiyanna Nikkin Thimmaiah, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Dharamvir Singh, Gurmail Singh, Kothajit Singh Khadangbam, Malak Singh, Mandeep Singh, Manpreet Singh, Nithin Thimmaiah, VR Raghunath, Ramandeep Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, PR Sreejesh, Thirumala Rao Potunuri, SK Uthappa.

Bangladesh - Md.Mamunur Rahman Chayan (Captain), A.H.M. Kamruzzaman, Asim Gope, Farhad Ahmed Shetul, Krishno Kumar Das, Md Zahid Hossain, Md. Rokonuzzaman, Md. Abdul Malek, Md. Hasan Jubair, Md. Imran Hasan, Md. Khorshadur Rahman, Md. Mosiur Rahman, Md. Sabbir Hossain, Mohammad Mainul Islam, Mohammad Roman Sarkar, Pushkor Khisa, Rashel Mahmud, Tapos Barmon.

Young and untested Indian squad:

In the absence of forwards Danish Mujtaba, SV Sunil, Gurwinder Singh Chandi and Akashdeep Singh -- all out of the tournament due to injuries -- India are fielding a young, untested forwardline for this tournament.

But the likes of Mandeep Singh, Nikkin Thimmaiah, Malak Singh and Ramandeep Singh have managed to rise to the occasion. Mandeep, in particular, has been in superb form so far, scoring four goals in the tournament, including two against Oman in the opener.

Sreejesh playing like Chinese Wall:

Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh is in great form and was widely responsible for the victory against Korea. Sreejesh made as many as six or seven clear saves, which included some acrobatic efforts, to earn the man-of-the-match award and help India keep a clean sheet.

Pakistan and Malaysia in semis already:

On Tuesday, Pakistan crushed Chinese Taipei 13-0 and Malaysia downed Japan 4-2 to enter the Asia Cup hockey semifinals from group B. The semis will be played on Friday. Pool B has been dominated by Pakistan, who breezed through to the semi-finals conceding only a single goal against while scoring 24. A 7-0 win against Japan on the opening day was followed by a more difficult 4-1 success against Malaysia before the Greenshirts wrapped up their pool stage play with a hefty 13-0 defeat of Chinese Taipei.