Pakistan’s Shakeel Abbasi (second right) and Song Yi of China vie for the ball during their Asian Champions Trophy match at Al Rayyan Stadium yesterday. Pakistan won 5-2. PICTURES BY: ABDUL BASIT
Doha: Title contenders India and Pakistan won their respective matches to record their second successive win in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament.
At Al Rayyan Stadium here yesterday, defending champions India aided by a brace from Vokkaliga Raghunath edged past a gritty Japan 3-1 in the first match of the day, while top-ranked Pakistan survive a few scary moments in their 5-2 win over China.
In the third match of the day, Malaysia defeated Oman 4-1.
After two rounds of matches India, Pakistan and Malaysia are the three teams with an all win record in the six-team competition. The final will be held on December 27.
In the first match of the day, Japan set up a lively pace in the first quarter of the match.
The Indians slackened the pace of the match much ‘against their style of play’ with the defenders holding on to the ball far too long.
In fact a tight Japanese defence kept India at bay and their attacking display in the first quarter of the match earned them two penalty corners, both which went a begging.
Indian coach Michael Nobbs admitted that the boys took the Japanese lightly.
The Australian coach said his boys were guilty of some ‘sloppy’ display.
“We should have won by a margin of more than five goals. We committed some sloppy errors which were costly. We should have put away five more goals. We fail to control the ball at critical moments, which are unpardonable mistakes at the international level. You cannot miss them,” said Nobbs, referring to the chances that Indian forwards failed to convert in the match.
The Indian coach did not find anything surprising in the Japan’s determined display .
“At this level we know all teams are tough. So we were prepared for that. They are a skillful side,” added Nobbs, who was critical of the lack of consistency on the part of the umpires.
India had to wait till the 22nd minute to take the lead through a penalty corner conversion from Raghunath.
The drag-flick specialist who scored two goals in Thursday’s match against China, fumbled with the first, but made amends with the second a minute later, giving India its first goal.
Raghunath placed his low flick to the right of sliding goalie Akira Morishima.
Japan equalised in the 50th minute with captain Yashuhiro Nakayama outwitting Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh with a neat placement to the right of the keeper.
However, India bounced a minute later with Gurwinder Singh Chandi scoring a field goal.
Drag-flick specialist Raghunath struck again, the second time in the match in the 59th minute to give India a 3-1 win, converting the penalty corner with aplomb.
In the second match, Pakistan aided by two goals apiece from Muhammad Waqas and Abdul Haseem Khan and a goal from Muhammad Waqas trounced China 5-2.
At one stage the teams were locked two-all, with China coming back strongly to equalise twice in the match.
Shakeel Abassi said the players are having a few problems with the Astroturf.
“We are facing problems early on because of the turf. It is hard, fast paced and bumpy here and there, so makes controlling a bit difficult.
“In the first half, it is a bit of a struggle but later on, the field opens up and then we are able to execute our plans better. So there is nothing to worry as you saw we were in total control in the second half,” said Abassi, after the match yesterday.
Pakistan went into the half- time break leading 3-2 with Waqas scoring in the 33rd minute.
Pakistan had to wait till the 53rd minute to add a fourth while Khan scored his second with one minute left.
THE PENINSULA
