India was within two minutes away from playing for the bronze at the Azlan Shah Cup, but sustained pressure from relaxed Malaysians — as they have already qualified for the Sunday final before start of the match — led to the cancel of solitary goal deficit and force 2-2 draw.

This draw pushed India to the bottom of the table, and now will engage Pakistan again to avoid wooden spoon tomorrow.

Had India held on to its 68th minute 2-1 lead, it would have played for the bronze against New Zealand tomorrow, but then when Faizal Saari, with cool mind, sent the controversial stroke to the corner of the cage a minute before the hooter, Indian hopes dashed.

Indians were the dominating side after conceding the first goal in the fifth minute that came off immaculate flick of Faizal Saari off Malaysia’s first penalty corner, but were not good enough to encash those moments.

And then, despite missing many sitters before and after, Mandeep Singh with one hand jabbed the ball into the net fed by Amit Rohidass on the left. Otherwise confidence personified goalie Kumar was beaten lock, stock and barrel this time.

India went into the lead through Rupinder’s penalty corner conversion in the 48th minute.

Danish Mujtaba, Akashdeep Singh, Mandeep Singh, Dharamvir Singh and the likes missed chances like millionaires, and this lax, or inexperience whatever, inside the D, caused Indian woes to now finish at the bottom of the table.

Even as the story of missed chances continued, Indian defence came under attack in the late minutes of second half. A cross from the right flag area entered the D, and Rupinder let the ball travel on his foot. The second Penalty Corner that the Korean umpire awarded will now be the focus of discussion in the days to come.

The attempted strike was received by hitherto error less, and precise Manpreet Singh on the goal line, and bounced away. Korean umpire whistled for another PC, but however, perhaps on the demand of the host side, consulted other umpire and awarded a stroke.

Indians protested and even walked out of the field for about a minute or two, and when they came back with the decision of the umpire standing, Sreejesh could not judge the push of Faizal Saari and thus Indians were done in.

Earlier, Gurjinder Singh, who just entered the field, was greeted with a yellow for his tackle on a Malaysian player and when he came back, his captain Danish was sent back for two minutes for a green.

India was virtually a man less on the field in the last 10 minutes.

The whole thing again bring the discussion to the core issue of third umpiring.

However, in the end if India is not in the bronze bracket match, they have to blame for themselves for the poor finish inside the D, and not getting enough penalty corners for Rupinder to do the talking he knows.