India outplayed Japan 2-1 to win the five-match test series 2-0 at the Kalinga Stadium here on Thursday. India's penalty corner specialist VR Raghunath weaved his magic by converting a corner with ease whereas Akashdeep Singh scored the second goal for his team. Japan's Hirotaka Wakari scored the lone goal for his team.
India outplayed Japan 2-1 to win the five-match test series 2-0 at the Kalinga Stadium here on Thursday. India's penalty corner specialist VR Raghunath weaved his magic by converting a corner with ease whereas Akashdeep Singh scored the second goal for his team. Japan's Hirotaka Wakari scored the lone goal for his team.
In the first quarter of the match, it was Japan who attacked first from the left flank and pressurised the Indian players. They continued with their long passes and kept the Indian players busy throughout the quarter. But their attacks were foiled by some tough defending from Birendra Lakra, K Chinglensana and VR Raghunath. Indian players charged back on the Japanese side but thet were unable to execute perfect finishes to their passes and by the end of the quarter, the score-line was 0-0.
In the second quarter, both teams playedwith more aggression and fought harder to create chances. In the 19th minute, Japan's Tomonori Ono ran through the left flank where he found his fellow teammate Hiroki Sakamoto in the circle, who took a reverse shot but it was nicely blocked by stand-in-keeper Harjot SIngh. India countered with the help of VR Raghunath and Yuvraj Walmiki and kept the ball in the Japan's half. In the last minute, In the 30th minute, India earned their first penalty corner after a quick attack. Dharamvir Singh pushed the ball in and Raghunath dragged it on the right of the Japanese goalie Suguru Shimmoto, who tried to stop it with his right hand but the ball reflected and went into the net to make it 1-0 in favour of India
India played an attacking game from the very first minute of the third quarter. On the other hand, Japan man-marked each player. In the 36th minute, Akashdeep Singh ran with the ball, dribbling past the Japanese defenders and hit the ball towards the bar, which beat the Japanese keeper for the second goal for India. However, the joy was short-lived as Japanese counter-attacked on Indian side and managed to earn a penalty corner in the 44th minute, which was perfectly converted by Hirotaka Wakari to make it 2-1.
In the 50th minute, India earned a penalty corner after a counter-attack. Sardar pushed in and young Harmanpreet dragged a powerful shot but it was saved by the Japanese goalie. Both the team fought neck-to-neck and tried harder to create more chances in the dying minutes.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}