Ipoh, May 11: Riding on two goals by Diwakar Ram, India rallied back from a one-goal deficit to outclass lowly Canada 3-1 in the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament here today.

India dominated the proceedings, getting nine penalty corners against two by their opponents, but still trailed 0-1 at the breather, only to bounce back strongly in the second session with their forwards for once showing bite.

India could have scored more but for Canadian goalkeeper Mike Mahoot bringing out some fine saves. Canada took the lead in the ninth minute from their second penalty corner, Wayne Fernandez’s firm push sailing high into the net at the left of Indian goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza.

India equalised in the 45th minute with Diwakar converting a penalty stroke catching the Canadian goalkeeper on the wrong foot. The stroke was awarded after SV Sunil’s goal-bound push following India’s fourth penalty corner hit a Canadian defender.

Nineteen-year-old Diwakar scored again in the 51st minute to put India ahead from their seventh penalty corner with a low push. The Canadian goalkeeper dived full length to his right but failed to stop the ball from finding the cage.

Two minutes later, India had a two-goal cushion from a combined team effort. Captain Sardara Singh’s free hit touched the stick of SV Sunil and rolled towards Shivendra Singh, who gently tapped the ball into the open goal to take the team closer to their first win in three matches.

Stout defence

The Canadians pressed hard late in the second half but their shots were wayward. Innocent Kullu and Gurbaz Singh brought off some fine goalline saves to keep India’s lead intact. “We desperately needed a win to stay in the tournament and we got it. The credit should go to the young team as they started scoring at last,” said Indian coach AK Bansal.

India next face Belgium tomorrow and Bansal thinks his boys would not have much problem in taming the Europeans. “If my forwards play as they did today, I don’t think we will have any problem tomorrow. Belgium is not a better side than Canada,” he said.