India vs Japan Asia Cup 2022: Manjeet, Pawan Score As India Beat Japan 2-1 In Super 4s Match

An early lead against Japan gave the Indian attackers loads of confidence as they became more aggressive in their approach of moving inside the Japanese half to increase pressure on their defenders.

India vs Japan Asia Cup 2022 ( Image Source :@TheHockeyIndia / Twitter )

New Delhi: A nervy second-string Indian men's hockey team claimed a hard-fought 2-1 win over Japan in the Super 4s of Asia Cup 2022 to climb to the top of table above Malaysia and South Korea. Japan, today, was handed their first-ever defeat in the tournament. In the league stage, India played a 1-1 draw with Pakistan, while they were beaten 5-2 by Japan. India made a solid comeback by registering a thumping 16-0 win over Indonesia to make it to the Super 4s.

As the final 15 minutes of the game began, India was aiming to maintain their 2-1 lead, while the Japanese attackers tried their best to score the equaliser. The game got intense and physical in the final minutes as Karti and Manjeet got hit on the face. Indian defenders held strong and were very disciplined in the final quarter. They foiled all attempts made by Japan to score a leveller. 

In the first quarter, India was off to a dream start as Manjeet Singh showed remarkable 3D skills to secure the opening goal for his team against Japan, and that too from a tight angle. India started off with confidence. They drew first blood in this match, courtesy of a field goal from Manjeet who came running down from the left byline to outwit a defender and slip the ball past the Japanese keeper for a goal.

An early lead against Japan gave the Indian attackers loads of confidence as they became more aggressive in their approach of moving inside the Japanese half to increase the pressure on their defenders. India ended Quarter 1 with a 1-0 lead over Japan.

Penalty corners were raining for Japan in Quarter 2. Japan's relentless attack finally paid off when Takuma Niwa scored the equalizer for his team in the 18th minute. Scores were now leveled at 1-1. Indian goalkeeper Suraj Karkera had saved this goal initially but the Japanese player scored on the rebound.

The Indian defense was exceptional in the second quarter against a relentless aggressive attack from Japan. In Quarter 2, most of the hockey action between India and Japan took place in the Indian half. Several attempts made by Japanese attackers were foiled by the Indian defense.

Both India and Japan continued attacks and counter-attacks in Quarter 2 to get a lead but neither side could secure a goal. Japan, however, had more possession of the ball compared to India and their attackers really tested the Indian defense with its unforgiving attacking approach. At half-time, scores were leveled at 1-1.

India was in much better control in 3rd quarter, ultimately resulting in a 2-1 lead after half-time against Japan after Pawan Rajbhar netted the ball to put India on top. Uttam Singh stormed through the Japanese defense as he came down running from the left byline to pass the ball to Pawan for a good finish, a goal to boost India's confidence. Japan won a penalty corner in this quarter too but failed to convert it into a goal.

 

As the final 15 minutes of the game began, India was aiming to maintain their 2-1 lead, while desperate Japanese attackers piled on the pressure at the end for equaliser. Indian defenders held strong and were very disciplined in the final quarter. They foiled all attempts made by Japan to score a leveller.