Asian Champions Trophy | India score nine past China to book a place in the semi final berth
India continued their good form in the Asian Champions Trophy by securing a place in the semi-finals following a 9-0 win over China. Akashdeep, Affan and Jasjit completed braces as India prepare to take on Malaysia tomorrow to decide the table toppers.
1st Quarter
India's best chance in the opening exchanges fell for Lalit when Akashdeep played him through the middle, but the ball was just a couple of yards ahead of the 22-year-old. Akashdeep, however, gave India the lead when he intercepted a stray pass in the final third. The UP-youngster made no mistake as he skipped past the last defender to give India a deserved lead.
With ten minutes gone, China won the first penalty corner of the game but the decision was overturned. On the other end, Chinglensana came up with a shot from a brilliant Affan ball, but the Chineese shot-stopper was alive to the danger.
At the end of the first quarter, Akash Chikte, standing in for Sreejesh, didn't have a single touch of the ball.
2nd Quarter
During the break, Indian coach Roelant Oltmans was heard using some strong language as he told his players in to uncertain way that he was not happy with the performance.
The pep-talk seemed to work as three minutes into the second quarter India doubled their lead through Affan. Chinglensana drove through the Chinese midfield before passing the ball to Akashdeep at the top of the box. The latter passed the ball first time into the path of Affan who placed it past the goalkeeper with his first touch.
Four minutes later, Jasjit made it three for the Indian contingent. The 26-year-old carried the ball from his own half, and as he approached the final third, he tried to pass the ball to the wing. The ball was deflected off the stick of Guo Zixiang into the circle. The 26-year-old was quickest to react and hit the ball into the far corner.
In the last five minutes of the quarter India won their first penalty corner. Rupinder Pal Singh, who scored six goals against Japan, stepped up and took the scoreline to 4-0 with a hard drag flick low to the keeper's right hand side.
A couple of minutes later, Rupinder was it again, going to the keeper's left but the goal was disallowed after the umpire's referral showed that the ball had been stopped inside the circle.
3rd Quarter
In the third quarter, China started the better of the two teams but it was India who scored again through Devindar Walmiki. The 24-year-old was found five yards away from goal by an excellent SK Uthappa ball. Walmiki turned and just lifted the ball past Ao Zhiwei.
China tried to get back into the game by winning a couple of penalty-corners, but the Indians countered very quickly and Lalit finally got his name on the scoresheet when he got at the end of an Akashdeep pass. The keeper made a dash towards Akashdeep ,and following the pass Lalit just touched the ball into the open goal.
Akashdeep's second just showed the vast difference of class between the two sides as he ran across the entire defence line and hit a venomous shot past Ao Zhiwei into the far corner to make the score 7-0.
Affan took his tournament tally to three with five minutes left in the third quarter, when he got at the end of another Valmiki ball to slot the ball past the onrushing Ao Zhiwei.
4th Quarter
India made it 9-0, and it was Jasjit who scored the last goal of the game. After some pinball in the Chinese circle, the ball fell for Lalit. The youngster just rolled it across the circle for Jasjit, who smashed the ball into the centre of the goal to take India's score to 9-0.
After the goal, India took their foot off the pedal as they saw out the game scoring 9 goals for a second time in the tournament.India take on hosts Malaysia tomorrow in the last group game of the Asian Champions Trophy.
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