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A masterclass performance by India saw them trounce the reigning Asian champions, Japan, with a resounding 5-0 victory, paving their way into the final of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament held at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai on August 11.
India, three-time champions of the tournament, took an aggressive stance from the very beginning, employing high-press hockey. In contrast, Japan opted for a more defensive strategy, sinking deep into their defensive half in an attempt to fend off the relentless attacks by the hosts.
The initial stages of the match saw India being awarded a penalty corner, setting the tone for their dominance. However, the Japanese goalkeeper, Takashi Yoshikawa, showcased his mettle with a brilliant save, denying India's captain, Harmanpreet Singh, from drawing first blood.
Even with Japan's defence trying their best, India controlled the narrative, setting the tempo and maintaining the majority of possession, compelling Japan into a defensive, catch-up style of play.
The deadlock was eventually broken during the second quarter. It was the 19th minute when Akashdeep Singh found the back of the net, capitalizing on a rebound after Hardik Singh's shot was parried away by Japan's substitute goalkeeper, Takumi Kitagawa. This breakthrough set the tone for India's forthcoming goals.
Building on this momentum, India secured their second penalty corner in the 23rd minute. Seizing this opportunity, Harmanpreet Singh demonstrated his prowess with a low, powerful flick to the left of the Japanese goalie, doubling India's advantage.
Adding to Japan's woes, India further solidified their lead with a third goal at the cusp of half-time. Manpreet Singh played a pivotal role in orchestrating this goal, skilfully navigating past three Japanese defenders and setting up Mandeep Singh for a simple finish.
The second half of the match mirrored the first. India's offensive onslaught continued unabated, putting immense pressure on the Japanese defence. One of the standout moments came when Sumit netted a potential goal-of-the-tournament contender, executing a back stick flick from a challenging angle. This spectacular effort was made possible due to the diligent groundwork by Manpreet from the right wing.
As the match neared its end, young Karthi Selvam etched his name onto the scoresheet, taking the score to 5-0. He was set up brilliantly by Sukhjeet Singh, who had expertly controlled an aerial pass from Harmanpreet.
With this victory, India gears up to face Malaysia in the much-anticipated final on August 12. On the other side, Japan will look to salvage pride as they take on defending champions, South Korea, in a contest for the third and fourth place.
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