Asian Champions Trophy Hockey 2024: Five-Star India Breeze Past Japan To Continue Dominant Run

Moqi: Defending Champions India continued their dominant run as they sailed past Japan with a 5-1 win on the Asian Champions Trophy on Monday. Sukhjeet Singh (2’, 60’) scored a double in India’s win while Abhishek (3’), Sanjay (17’) and Uttam Singh (fifty four’) scored a goal each while Kazumasa Matsumoto (forty one’) scored the lone goal for Japan. Earlier, India had won 3-zero win against hosts China of their opener.

India were quick to get underway with a in point of fact perfect goal by Sukhjeet Singh right at some stage in the 2d minute. It became Sanjay, hovering on the correct side of the circle, to lob in a cross pass that became all of sudden deflected by Sukhjeet. Indian forwards extended the bring about 2-zero right at some stage in the following minute with Abhishek dribbling past greater than one Japanese defenders to drive it around the goalkeeper to attain.

The onslaught continued right at some stage in the 2d quarter with Sanjay converting a splendid penalty corner right at some stage in the 17th minute. With 3-zero lead on the board, India were in a comfy position while Japan tried to shake off the early nerves and bounce back right at some stage in the sport. They made quick amends of their attack to fetch a PC right at some stage in the twenty first minute.

But Japan’s dragflick became finely blocked by Indian rushers, enabling their team to launch a fast counter attack. Attacking from the correct, Jugraj Singh gets a nice turn, wins a free hit. After a flurry of swift short passes, Indian forwards omit the goal mouth by inches. With one goal coming during this quarter, India completely dominated with Sixty seven per cent ball possession that led to eleven circle entries and three shots on goal.

Coming back from the ten-minute 1/2-time break, India looked to sustain the momentum. They played patiently, with discipline, to launch their first attack right at some stage in the 0.33 quarter but Japan did well in winning the ball back. They did well to construct on a structured attack that finally led to a field goal right at some stage in the forty first minute by Kazumasa Matsumoto. India goalie Krishan Bahadur Pathak may do little to stop Matsumoto from scoring that one.

Handiest minutes earlier, there became a in point of fact perfect opportunity for India but Vivek Sagar fell inches short of a fourth goal. A fourth goal at last did come through for India, as a consequence of good stick work by Jarmanpreet Singh who assisted Uttam Singh from the baseline to convert a fine field goal. This left India with a comfy 4-1 lead right at some stage in the 54th minute.

Sukhjeet added any other goal to his name right at some stage in the sixtieth minute after a fine assist by Abhishek to end the match on a high and lead the points table at no.1 spot with consecutive victories. Abhishek, who became named the Player of the Match said, “It became an entire team effort today and we stuck to basics. We produced good attack and ensured we were heading in the right direction. I'm also happy to be recognised with the Hero of the Match award.”