India Dominates Japan 5-1 For Consecutive Victory In Asian Champions Trophy

India continued their impressive run in the Asian Champions Trophy with a resounding 5-1 victory over Japan at the Moqi Training Base in Hulunbuir, China, on September 9, 2024. This win marks India’s second consecutive triumph in the tournament, showcasing their dominant form.

The match kicked off with India’s aggressive approach, as Sukhjeet Singh swiftly opened the scoring right after the referee’s whistle. Before Japan could stabilize their defense, India struck again. Abhishek broke through Japan’s defense to score a second goal within minutes, leaving the Japanese team scrambling to tighten their defense.

Despite India’s control of the game and consistent possession, Japan managed to limit further scoring opportunities in the first half. However, the second quarter saw India maintain their momentum. Just two minutes into the quarter, Sanjay scored India’s third goal, a notable achievement as it was his first of the tournament. Interestingly, Captain Harmanpreet Singh, typically responsible for penalty corners, passed the opportunity to the young Sanjay, who capitalized on it effectively.

The third quarter saw a brief shift in momentum as Japan fought back and managed to score. Kazumasa Matsumoto’s powerful field goal, which deflected off an Indian defender’s stick, beat goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak, giving Japan a glimmer of hope.

In the fourth quarter, Japan’s efforts to reduce the deficit were met with resilience from India. Uttam Singh, receiving a precise pass from Jarmanpreet Singh, extended India’s lead to 4-1. Sukhjeet Singh capped off the match with his second goal in the dying moments, sealing a comprehensive 5-1 victory for India.

This commanding performance underlines India’s strong position in the tournament, as they continue to assert their dominance with back-to-back wins.