Team India continued their dominant run in the Asian Champions Trophy with a confident 5-1 victory over Japan on September 9 at the Moqi Training Base in Hulunbuir City, China.
This win marked India’s second consecutive triumph in the tournament, following their 3-0 victory over China in the opener. The defending champions showcased their attacking prowess, maintaining their strong title defense in a fiery fashion.
India started the match against Japan with a flurry of powerful and promising attacking runs, quickly establishing control over the game. Just two minutes into the match, India found the back of the net when Abhishek scored off a deflected goal, giving the team an early lead. The momentum didn’t stop there, as Sukhjeet Singh doubled the lead within seconds, leaving Japan reeling.
Japan struggled to maintain possession and was forced to adopt a defensive approach, closing the first quarter with a crowded defence in front of their goal. However, this strategy offered little long-term relief as India continued their relentless attack. The pressure paid off again at the start of the second quarter, with India extending their lead to 3-0, a blow that left the Japanese dugout and coach visibly frustrated.
Throughout the second quarter, Japan exhibited a lack of attacking intent, while India, under the leadership of Hermanpreet Singh, also slowed down their aggressive runs, perhaps conserving energy and managing the game. Despite this, the Indian team’s early dominance kept them comfortably ahead.
It wasn’t until the dying minutes of the third quarter that Japan finally regained some composure in their passing movements and forward runs. Their persistence was eventually rewarded when Kazumasa Matsumoto managed to pull one goal back for Japan, giving them a glimmer of hope. This marked a momentary thrush in Japan’s gameplay, which lasted all until the middle of the fourth and final quarter, only for Uttam Singh and Sukhjeet to strike late for India yet again, and finish on 5-1.
Despite Japan’s late efforts, India’s early surge and solid defence ensured they secured another convincing win, further solidifying their position as the team to beat in the Asian Champions Trophy. India are up against Malaysia on September 11, where yet again the defending champions will take the field as clear favourites.