Malaysia rallied back twice from behind to force a 2-2 dogfall with Japan at Al-Rayyan Sports Club, marking their second hard-win draw at Doha Asian Games on Wednesday.

Japan scored their first goal in the eighth minute from their first penalty corner. Takahiko Yamabori's low and hard push took a slight deflection from Mohd Shahrun Nabil Abdullah's stick, sending goalkeeper Kumar Subaramiam of Malaysia the wrong way.

Malaysia equalized with three minutes remaining in the first half. In a well-worked set piece Malaysia's Megat Azrafiq Megat Termizi made free hit outside the circle and the ball was deflected by his teammate Boon Huat Chua into the bottom corner of the Japanese goal.

The teams went into the break level with all the first half chaces coming from penalty corners.

Japan's Yamabori pushed Japan back into the lead in the 43rd minute. After receiving a ball on top of the circle, he took a quick shot and cought Malaysian Subramiam off guard.

But Malaysia just would not go away and level led the match three minutes later.

Kuhan Shanmuganathan sent a penalty corner push to the right post to be deflected into goal by Abdullah.

In the last tense few minutes both teams attacked, searching for a winning goal, and at the final whistle Malaysia's players had reason to celebrate, having achieved two draws with Pakistan 1-1 and with Japan 2-2.

Editor: Donald