The Indian men's hockey team made it three wins in three games at the Asian Champions Trophy as they overcame the challenge from Japan, beating them 4-1 at the Jalandhar's Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium on Friday.
Abhishek, playing his 150th international match, scored a brace while Harmanpreet Singh and Vishukant Singh also netted a goal each. For Japan, Shota Yamada converted a penalty stroke.
India largely struggled for the three quarters despite taking the lead in the first quarter. Japan were disciplined at the back and didn't let their structure break as they made India work hard to create chances.
The opening goal came in the 11th minute with Sukhjeet showing superb stick skills to pass it to Abhishek who took a touch and scored past the keeper.
Before the quarter ended though, Japan levelled it. The penalty stroke was awarded after the dragflick from captain Raiki Fujishima hit Sanjay who was defending on the line. It looked like the ball hit his hand, in which case it shouldn't have been a stroke but India's review didn't stand. Shota Yamada stepped up and converted from the spot to make it 1-1.
No goals came in the next two quarters with Japan barely allowing India to create. The visiting team was playing with more confidence on and off the ball. They earned more penalty corner chances while India struggled to get even one.
Two minutes into the final quarter, the match turned. Angad Bir Singh won the first penalty corner for India and captain Harmanpreet took his chance with a superb dragflick to give India the lead.
Four minutes later, Abhishek scored his second of the match, a close range finish despite being surrounded by the defenders. In the 46th minute, Vishunkant, who was one of the better players for India on the night, took control of an aerial pass, ran into the circle and scored. A deflected goal but no doubt Vishukant deserved it.
After a day's rest, India will be up against Malaysia on November 1. The two teams are only unbeaten ones in the tournament with Malaysia winning 6-1 against Bangladesh earlier on Friday.
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