- SportsTak

Defending champions India confirmed their place in the semifinal of Asian Champions Trophy 2021 by trouncing Japan 6-0 in their final group stage match on Sunday.

Harmanpreet Singh’s netted a brace (10th and 53rd min) for the winners and with this his goal tally in the tournament reached to 6.

Dilpreet Singh chipped in with a brilliant goal in the 23rd minute which was well complimented by Jarmanpreet Singh’s 34th minute net.

Sumit (46th min) and Shamsher Singh (54th min) also netted a goal each to take the winning score to 6-0 and left Japan in all sorts of bother.

Earlier, India secured a win against Pakistan and Bangladesh after playing out a draw against Korea in the tournament opener.

India owned the first half as they earned two back-to-back penalty corners within the first six minutes of the the first quarter but were unable to convert either. Soon after Japan also wasted a penalty corner as their striker fired the shot wide.

The scoreline could have been 2-0 towards the end of the first quarter had veteran Lalit Upadhyay not missed a sitter.

In the 23rd minute, the trio of Mandeep Singh, Shilanand Lakra and Dilpreet combined well as Dilpreet doubled India's lead.

Japan, too, attacked but the Indian defence foiled their attempts as the Olympic bronze medallists headed into the break with a two-goal lead.

Japan began the second half on the offensive but it was India who scored their third goal courtesy Jaramanpreet's clean strike.

A crucial PC coming their way in the 36th minute, Japan looked to capitalise on the chance but India keeper Suraj Karkera, who shone in the absence of regular custodian P Sreejesh, pulled off a superb save to deny them.

Japan tried to up the ante as they attacked in numbers. With India a man down, Japan looked to create an opportunity with Kenta Tanaka breaking the Indian defence with a solo run, but, once again, Karkera foiled the attack.

Japan continued to test the Indian defence but the backline stood tall.

Earlier, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallists, secured a win against Pakistan and Bangladesh after playing out a draw against Korea in the tournament opener.