Thrustful India thrash China for a fluent 9-0 win

Indian relished weak challenge offered by China and pumped in nine goals to nil to post an emphatic 9-0 win in their penultimate pool match of the 4th Asian Champions Trophy in Kuantan.

Akashdeep Singh set the goal scroll moving in the ninth minute which was followed by Affan Yousaf ten minutes later. Affan was again in the scoring act in the 40th minute.

Rupinder converted India’s first PC in the 25th minute (4-0).

Inbetween defender Jasjit Singh, who played upfront today, gave a finishing touches to combined attack generated by the duo of Akashdeep and Talwinder (3-0). His forehand from top of the circle elicited no response from China goalie Zhiwei Ao.

Despite a goal disallowed on China’s referral, India sat comfortably at halftime with a 4-0 score. Rupinder’s conversion was disallowed on referral.

Thimmaiah tore the Chinese defence with a fast counter and his reverse found the net in the 34th minute (5-0).

Three minutes, continuing the momentum, Lalit Upadhyay, who just come in, punched in a melee (6-0).

Catching a defender blind, Akashdeep Singh stole the ball upfront and moved to centre of D to whack his second goal in the 39th minute (7-0).

Nine minutes before the hooter, Jasjit Singh got a minus from Pardeep Mor after two earlier shots were blocked by the rival goalie, whacked to the left of the cage (9-0).

India got its third PC, but the ball was not stopped properly for Rupinder to add to his personal tally.

Earlier, his goal off the second PC was given by the umpire but it did not survive Chinese referral.

India, unsually, worked hard even after nine goals but the Chinese did not yield. Perhaps, India eyeing topping the pool with goal average, which is a possibility.

India will take on Malaysia tomorrow (18 hrs IST). Malaysia is sitting pretty well with 9 points after 3 matches. India now has ten points after four matches.

Pic: Akashdeep Singh, Chenglansana and Pardeep Mor celebrate a goal