CWG 2018 Hockey: Harmanpreet's brace ensures quarter-final spot for India

The Indian men's hockey team produced a spirited performance as they edged past lower-ranked Malaysia 2-1 to book their place in the semi-finals of the ongoing 21st Commonwealth Games here on Tuesday.

It was drag flick specialist Harmanpreet Singh, who scored both goals for India to guide them to the last-four.

Harmanpreet put India ahead as early as in the third minute of the match by converting the penalty corner into a goal before Faizal Saari pulled off the lone goal for Malaysia in the 16th minute of the match.

Subsequently, India remained on the back foot in the second quarter as well as the start of the third quarter, with their Asian rivals kept on driving the tempo of the game.

In the 18th minute of the match, the Manpreet Singh-led side had a great chance to retain their lead via Varun Kumar, but he failed to score the penalty corner by hitting it wide.

Just four minutes later, the Indian skipper came close to smashing a goal, but his attempt was too saved by Malaysian goalkeeper Hairi Abd Rahman.

However, Harmanpreet eventually helped the Men in Blue clinch the win when the Indian defender notched his second goal of the match by scoring the fifth successive penalty corner in the third quarter.

The quarter-final match saw the Manpreet Singh-led side earn as many as nine penalty corners, the first of which came as early as in the second minute of the match.

The victory pushed India's points tally to seven from three matches and sealed them the semi-final berth, while both Malaysia and Pakistan are just with three points from as many outings.

India are now required just a draw in their next clash against England to top the Group B.

As the prestigious quadrennial Games entered sixth day today, India will aim to add more medals to their tally which currently stands at 19 medals including 10 gold, four silver and five bronze.

(ANI)