Raghunath is India’s hero

V.R. Raghunath scored a ‘golden’ goal in the last minute of extra-time as India beat Malaysia 5-4 in a thrilling match to advance to the semifinals of the Champions Challenge hockey tournament here on Thursday.

Raghunath’s goal came after a late recovery saw India draw level 4-4 in regulation time.

India twice had a narrow escape in extra-time when breakaway moves saw Malaysian strikers Faizal Saari and Izwan Firdaus having only goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh to beat, but the delay in taking a shot at the goal helped Sreejesh save the situation on both occasions.

Sandeep Singh converted two successive penalty corners, in the sixth and 23rd minutes, to give India a 2-0 lead before Malaysia staged a remarkable rally and controlled the game until the 64th minute.

Izwan Firdaus opened Malaysia’s scoring with a field goal in the 33rd minute off a pass from Azlan Misron. Misron got the equaliser in the 42nd minute as he flicked past a crowded defence and over the Indian goalkeeper.

Malaysia’s third goal came off a breakaway move in 46th minute which caught the Indian defence off-guard. Goalkeeper Sreejesh blocked the first shot from Tengku Ahmed, who slammed home the rebound. Misron scored his second goal off Malaysia’s second penalty corner, deflecting Amin Rahim’s shot off a set-piece in the 56th minute.

However, it was Raghunath and India’s day and it could not be denied a semifinal berth even by the spirited Malaysians.