Hockey World League Semi-Final - Quarter-Final Highlights: India Beat Malaysia to Enter Semis

A fantastic quarter-final match was played out between India and Malaysia with the winner not being confirmed till the final hooter was blown. Here are the highlights of the match.

Full time! India beat Malaysia in an absolute thriller. The win ensures that the side will play the winner of Belgium vs France match, in the semis.

59' Malaysia get a penalty corner with 38 seconds left! No goal!

58' India's turn to pile men back in their own D. As many as seven circling around Sreejesh - man-marking at its best.

55' India have a penalty corner! And it is a goal! Jasjeet slams his second of the match and India are back in the lead.

55' Five minutes left. Is this match heading for a shootout?

52' Malaysians have ditched the cautious approach since the latest goal. Forwards go back to doing what they do best and Sreejesh comes under pressure. It is a riveting tit-for-tat battle unfolding here.

48' India get a penalty corner! It's a feeble shot at goal and is casually blocked by goalkeeper Roslan. Referee signals for long corner but India go for video referral.

And it's a goal from the PC! Jasjeet slams the ball in and makes it 2-2 here. Loud cheer from the fans in the stands.

Final quarter begins...

End of third quarter and all credit to the Malaysians. Their coach said at half-time that his team would play cautious hockey and that's just what was on display. Wave after wave of Indian attacked either thwarted or crowded out. Scoreline is 2-1 against Indians.

44' The current weather is 35C in Antwerp! Both teams have hardly looked tired and are accustomed to playing in hot conditions back home.

41' Indian defence hardly has any player guarding - such is the intent to attack. A counter though can prove very, very costly.

40' Malaysian defence is quite static in its defence but the Indians have been unable to get the equaliser despite having 73% possession so far in this quarter.

35' India return the favour. Akashdeep is fed the ball but he fails to beat the Malaysian goalkeeper.

34' Sreejesh in some pain. Malaysia steal the ball and attack the Indian D. Sreejesh spreads wide to save the shot but may have done minor harm to himself. He gets up quickly though.

33' India keep possession of the ball and look to assault the D. Malaysians pour men back, forcing the Indians to lure them out. Not working at the moment.

The third quarter of the match begins.

Malaysian coach is pretty pleased at this stage. "We had a slow start but came back good. We will continue to play positive hockey but will play a bit more cautiously," says Tai Beng Hai.

At half-time, India trail Malaysia 2-1.

28' India get a penalty corner! That one is quite safe for the Malaysians but the referee signals another PC for the Indians. Video referral sought.

TV referee says the ball rose from an Indian stick and so, the decision is over-ruled and Malaysia get a free-hit. India's PC record in the tournament now - two goals from 12 chances.

28' Indians stepping on the pedal - appear understandably desperate for the equaliser before the half-time whistle is blown.

25' India get a penalty corner, at last! But it's a wide shot from Rupinder Pal that fails to really challenge the Malaysian custodian. Scoreline remains 2-1 against the Indians.

24' Penalty corner for Malaysia yet again! The Indians are not happy and complain to the referee but decide against a video referral.

Sabbah scores! Malaysia now in the lead and have converted two of their four penalty corners.

23' India focus on keeping possession of the ball - not a bad ploy considering the mood the Malaysians are in.

18' Penalty corner for Malaysia - their third! The shot is directed like a bullet but custodian PR Sreejesh side-steps and makes a regulation block.

17' Malaysians are on the attack once again. This will be a big test for the Indian defence.

16' Green card shown to Jasjeet!

Second quarter begins. Malaysia have converted one of their two PCs. India still looking for their first.

14' With just seconds left, Malaysia earn a penalty corner! And it's a goal from Rahim! It's 1-1 after the 1st quarter.

13' Malaysia building up the pressure inside Indian D. A number of shots have come in quick succession but the Indian defence has done a much better job so far than it did against the dominant Aussies.

10' A brilliant chance for Malaysia comes to nothing. Indian defence faced its first challenge as Faizaal Sarri received an open ball. The forwards though were crowded out by the Men in Blue.

8' A superb interception from Sardar sends alarm bells ringing in Malaysian camp. The Indian captain charges towards the goal on his own and manages to earn a long corner for his team.

6' Penalty corner for Malaysia! Striker makes a mess of it and nothing comes of it.

5' India get another chance to slam one in but it comes to nothing.

4' Goal! India go on the aggression and Satbir Singh scores a field goal. Kudos to Akashdeep who fed the ball in from the side and all Satbir had to do was sweep it in.

1' Malaysia start proceedings and go on the attack almost immediately. This team is known for its fiery approach and it is quite evident in the opening seconds. Can they sustain it though?

* While the Indian team is eying revenge for the loss against Malaysia at Sultan Azlan Shah, Malaysians too would be keen to avenge their defeat at the hands of India at the World Cup in Hague.

*  National anthems from both countries played out. Great support for both teams with local fans also coming out.

* Indian and Malaysian players walk out for their all-important quarter-final clash. Since Malaysia finished third in the pool stage, this is their last chance at survival in the tournament.

The Indian team has been playing under absolutely no pressure. With a place in the Rio Olympics already secures, the team began the campaign in Antwerp with a shaky win against France, followed by a commanding victory against Poland. The players even managed to draw Pakistan but their last match in the league stage brought a halt to the momentum.

Factbox: India vs Malaysia

* India's previous match against Malaysia was in the Sultan Azlan Shah earlier this year. Malaysia won the match 3-2.

* India is ranked ninth - three places above Malaysia - in the FIH list.

* Key India players - Sardar Singh, Gurbaj Singh and Ramandeep Singh.

* Key Malaysian players - Muhammad Shamsul, Razie Rahim and Izwan Firdaus Ahmad Tajuddin.

Against the Aussies, the Indian defenders looked like absolute rookies and wide gaps allowed the opposition to secure a 6-2 win. Barring reputed goal-keeper PR Sreejesh, the Indians were quite lifeless and a similarly lackluster effort against the Malaysians can prove to be absolutely devastating. Sardar Singh has already said that his players are not tourists in Belgium and it is time to prove it by returning to a strong brand of hockey. "Our plans for the quarter-final are ready and now we have to implement the strategies on the field," Sardar had said on the eve of the match. "We are not taking Malaysia lightly as they have the ability to perform at the highest level."

Malaysians indeed have the fire power to stun big teams. The 12th ranked side outplayed China and stunned Ireland in the league stages. With the likes of Muhammad Shamsul, Razie Rahim and Izwan Firdaus Ahmad Tajuddin - each of whom have scored twice in the tournament so far, Malaysia will surely fancy its chances against India. "Malaysia is a good team and they are among the top four teams of Asia, so there is no point of taking the match easily," said India coach Paul van Ass.