The last time India played Malaysia, they went down 3-2 through golden goal despite leading by 2-1 in the Asian games semifinals. Back then, they were playing full strength but somehow failed to capitalize on their chances.

On Monday, there were no such struggles. India started with a bang and kept at it till the hooter went off in the Azlan Shah tournament, registering a comprehensive 5-2 win against the hosts, who had a strong crowd to support them.

The Indians had been stretched to the limit against Australia but they bounced back in style. There was talk of an asian games revenge but it would be unfair to the youngsters in this side who have made this opportunity count. No one more than rupinder pal singh. The youngster has not only scored off penalty corners, like he was supposed to do, but has also been effective in deep defence.

The Indians went out on attack from the beginning and reaped rewards. With skipper Arjun Halappa penetrating at will and creating several chances upfront, Roshan Minz drew first blood when he put the ball in off a rebound after Malaysian goalkeeper Kumar managed to block the first shot, in the 8th minute itself. It was a similar case in the 18th minute, this time after a long pass from Ravi Pal, when Mandeep Antil stuck a rebound in to make it 2-0.

Rupinder stepped ahead in the 22nd minute for India’s first penalty corner and duly made it 3-0, and it looked like IIndia would run away with the game even before the half way mark. And though Malaysia managed to pull one back in the 34th minute through Muhammad Azammi Adabi, there wasn’t much they could do when SV Sunil scored his first goal in over 15 months – he is coming off a long injury lay off and playing his first competition since the 2009 European tour – tapping the ball in past an unguarded defence.

It must be noted here that the Indian forward line is the least experienced department here and has not been too impressive so far. But the Indian plan of drawing the defence and the goalkeeper towards one side — with the likes of Gurbaj running all across the field and Halappa, Vikram and Vikas Pillay making full use of their experience – leaving the other post unguarded paid off against Malaysia.

The first 15 minutes of the second half was different. Both coach Harendra Singh and Halappa admitted to the team losing concentration for a while and that remains a concern, but credit goes to the team that they managed to hold Malaysia in that period. The hosts did make it 4-2 when Mohd Shahrun Nabil scored in the 43rd minute, taking advantage of some loose marking from the Indians but that was as close as they could get.

India regrouped in the later stages and the defence held off despite being down to 10 men, custodian Bharat Chhetri pulling off some impressive saves including two penalty corners to thwart them. Antil added his second in the dying minutes to complete India’s tally of 5-2