ACT: Heartbreak for title holders India, suffer 3-5 loss to Japan in semis

Dhaka, December 21

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Defending champions India got a taste of their own medicine as they suffered a stunning 5-3 defeat to Japan in the second semifinal of the Asian Champions Trophy here today.

Coming into the game as overwhelming favourites after having thrashed the same opponents 6-0 in their pool match, India were a pale shadow of themselves.

Though India have a superior head-to-head record — 16 wins in 18 meetings – it was Japan who dictated terms throughout the match today.

Sample this: In the first six minutes Japan earned as many as six penalty-corners. Toying with the Indian defence right at the start gave them a 2-0 lead inside the first two minutes through Shota Yamada (1st minute, penalty), Raiki Fujishima (2nd).

Too hot to handle

It was all Japan in first 15 minutes as wave after wave of attacks lashed the Indian D. It was a torrid quarter as India failed to create a single chance.

Trailing by two, the Indians came out with more purpose in the second quarter and reduced the margin in the 17th minute through Dilpreet Singh’s field goal. India kept up the pressure and secured their first penalty-corner in the 19th minute but Nilam Sanjeep Xess’ effort was saved by the Japanese goalkeeper.

Japan’s fast-paced counterattacks were too hot to handle. From one such counter, Japan earned another penalty stroke for an obstruction by custodian Krishan Bahadur Pathak and this time Yoshiki Kirishita stepped up and converted the chance to go into the breather with a 3-1 lead.

After the change of ends, Japan hit again when Kosei Kawabe tapped into the open goal after some confusion in the Indian defence led to them thinking they had conceded a penalty-corner. But the umpire played advantage. Ryoma Ooka then tapped in from close range in the 41st minute after being set up by Kenta Tanaka’s brilliant work on the left flank.

Two minutes later, Harmanpreet Singh converted India’s second penalty-corner. Trailing 2-5 and with just over a minute left, India secured their fifth penalty-corner, and Hardik Singh scored from a variation.

“We were lazy a bit at the start, conceded two early goals. Big lesson for us that we can’t underestimate any team, we need to be ready for the match tomorrow,” Manpreet said. India play Pakistan for the bronze medal tomorrow. In the other semifinal, South Korea overcame Pakistan 6-5. — TNS, agencies