India thumps Japan in its first Asia Cup match.
What a start for new coach Sjoerd Marijne as Indian tames Japan 5-1 in the first Asia Cup match. The first two quarters saw Japan challenge India well but once India ran away with a healthy lead in the third quarter, it was always difficult for Japan to catch up with India's pace.
Harmanpreet Singh, with a brace, S.V. Sunil, Ramandeep Singh and Lalit Upadhyay score one each for the Men in Blue. Harmanpreet could have got a hat-trick or even more but an alert Japanese goalkeeper thwarted his attempts.
India now meets host Bangladesh on the October 13 before taking on arch-rivals Pakistan on October 15.
60" The hooter goes and India wallops Japan 5-1.
60" Japan makes a last-ditch attempt to reduce the arrears but in vain.
59" Japan gets a penalty corner off a counter-attack and an agile and alert Indian defence makes sure there is no hiccup.
58" Back-to-back penalty corners for India. Harmanpreet cannot get it beyond the Japanse custodian once while his shot is deflected above the net by the goalkeeper in the second attempt.
57" Akashdeep and Sunil could have made it 6-1 for India. But Akashdeep's attempt on target is wide. The scoreline remains at 5-1. He is having a bad day in office.
55" Five minutes left and it looks like Japan has lost ideas on how to thwart India's plans. The Indian's keeping the ball in their possession and play is confined to the midfield mostly.
52" India's Ramandeep is injured and is out. A tackle with Japan's Shota Yamada is gone wrong and the Indian player is taken off in a stretcher.
51" The umpires have gone upstairs for a referral for a penalty stroke. Umpires believe Akash Chitke's fouled a Japanese forward and the umpires don't award a stroke. Japan gets a free hit instead.
51'' Nine minutes left on the clock and Japan has a mountain to climb.
India's third PC and Harmanpreet and Manpreet combine to pile on Japan's misery. Manpreet just passes to Harmanpreet and the striker gets his second goal of the match. This match looks like it is beyond Japan now.
48'' Penalty corner and goal. India makes it 5-1.
47'' India misses another one in front of the goal. Akashdeep is the man in question now. His shot lacks venom as the Japan goalkeeper saves it with ease. This is the fourth goal that India has missed scoring in the last 17 minutes of play.
India is sitting pretty and must make sure there are no defensive lapses in this quarter.
Fouth and last quarter begins
End of third quarter. India running away with this game at 4-1. Japan needs some good attacking skills now to take this game away from India.
43'' Ramandeep Singh and Sunil combine together but miss another one. Ramandeep's shot just misses the target and is a tad wide.
42" Sunil at it again. This time he misses an easy one on the goal mouth. India looking to extend the lead.
40" Japan get close to scoring a goal. Akash Chikte saves an attempt.
38" India is relentlessly attacking and penetrating through the Japanese defence with ease. It does not look good for Japan now.
India leads 4-1
35'' Fourth goal for India. Penalty corner and Harmanpreet Singh coverts it. The ball lands on the board with a thud and India is now running away with this match. It is India's second PC and Harmanpreet can do no wrong this time.
India now lead 3-1
33'' It is absolute screamer from Ramandeep from a tight angle on the right. A defender was closing in but Indian striker made it look easy. An absolute delight.
33" Goal by Ramandeep Singh for India but a video referral stalls proceedings as Japan has asked for a review as the players thought the ball tore through the side net. The umpire gives the goal to India and Japan lose its review.
31'' India putting pressure through the flanks.
Third quarter begins
End of second quarter. At halftime, India in the lead at 2-1. India hold on to a slender lead. The Japanese are strong and agile on their counters and India must make sure there are no defensive lapses.
29" India counter attacks and puts pressure on Japan. India almost score but the umpires have gone upstairs for a clarification. The scoreline remains intact but India gets a free hit.
26" Japan close-in and Watanabe almost helps his team get back on level terms but his shot from the right is a tad wide.
22" India snatches the lead again. A brilliant reverse flick by Lalit Upadhyay puts the Men in Blue ahead. He takes a high ball, turns around and unleashes a perfect reverse flick that beats the Japanese goalkeeper all ends up.
19" Japan is on the attack. A good save by Suraj Karkera. He deflects the shot away.
17" Another chance goes down for India as Harmanpreet cannot get his penalty corner strike on target.
Second quarter begins
Both teams locked 1-1 at the end of the first quarter
12" India could have taken the lead but Akashdeep's flick finds the Japanese goalkeeper.
4" India's joy is short-lived as Japan restores parity immediately. Kenji Kitazato scores for the Japanese through a field goal.
3" Akashdeep Singh sets up S.V. Sunil and the striker comes up with a sublime finish in the third minute to put India ahead.
First quarter begins
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