Asian Champions Trophy 2023: India 5-0 Japan at Full Time - Highlights
India beat Japan 5-0 to enter the final of the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 against Malaysia.
Indian men's hockey team
Asian Champions Trophy 2023: The Indian men's hockey team ran riot against Japan to win the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 semifinal 5-0 in Chennai on Friday. India will now face first-time finalists Malaysia in the ACT 2023 final on Sunday.
Akashdeep Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Sumit and Karthi Selvam found the back of the net for India. Harmanpreet (8 goals in 6 matches) is the highest scorer in the tournament.
As it happened:
India hammer Japan. It was a 1-1 draw in the group stage earlier, so there were some doubts about today's test. But what a supreme show from a dazzling Indian team.
Next up, the final test vs Malaysia. Malaysia too hammered Korea 6-2 in the other semifinal. It'll be a fitting finale on Sunday.
Sumit's goal was probably the moment of the match, but going by crowd reactions, the Karthi goal was no less. It's been a juggernaut from a superior Indian side today. Japan have been razed.
Karthi Selvam scores! Drills his shot after a pass from Sukhjeet finds him 1v1 against the keeper. Karthi holds his arms aloft as the Chennai stadium goes wild to see the Tamil Nadu lad get another goal in the tournament.
It's India who are threatening to increase the lead even more. A double save by the Japanese keeper keeps the lead down to 4 goals. Japan make a foray into the Indian circle too, but quickly dispossessed.
Goal Scorers for India:
Q2:
Singh Akashdeep (FG)
Singh Harmanpreet (PC)
Singh Mandeep (FG)
Q3:
Sumit (FG)
Japan have one last quarter to script a miracle. India holding the ball, slowing the pace of the game down. They don't want any surprises, clearly.
The highlight of the quarter has to be Sumit and his goal, the defender did some stunning work on the base line and his finishing was even more stunning.
India has completely outplayed Japan here.
The Japanese team failed to control the Indian team as both forwards Mandeep Singh and Akashdeep Singh saw their shots being saved.
India 4-0 Japan
Indian defender Sumit has flexed some finishing skills as he carries the ball on the base line and scoops it in the top of the net leaving everyone stunned.
India 4-0 Japan
The combination of Amit Rohidas and Manpreet Singh produces a brilliant sequence with Amit taking the shot but it is saved by the Japanese goalkeeper.
India 3-0 Japan
Japan is devoid of space at the moment and the Indian team is keeping most of the possession.
India 3-0 Japan
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