Japan, 2018 Asian Games gold medallists, packed too many guns for hosts Bangladesh while storming to a 5-0 victory in the 2021 Asian Champions Trophy on Saturday.Cheered on by a group of compatriots, presumably expatriates based in Dhaka, Japan quelled Bangladesh’s early energy to open the scoring through Kenta Tanaka after a barren first quarter.
The ace striker with Dutch Hoofdeklasse experience on his side broke Bangla resistance with a delectable back-handed flick from a long ball by No. 15 gave goalkeeper Biplop Kujur no chance in the 21st minute.
Bangladesh, who delighted home fans in a valiant 2-3 defeat to South Korea the previous day, managed to keep their defensive structure together in the second quarter but a goal from a penalty corner by Raiki Fujishima took the game away.
Japan’s pace, verve and indefatigability made for a one-sided third quarter and man-of-the-match Ryosei Kato made no mistake with a penalty stroke although Kujur would wish he did better had he watched the replay. Kujur who had a chequered match would also rue the fourth goal and Kato’s second from a penalty corner, the custodian getting a touch to a drag-flick that flew into the right of his goal.
Captain Seren Tanaka then made it 5-0 to end his match on a happy note after serving a double-green yellow card.
Japan’s win reflected the overwhelming stats in their favour: 29-8 on circle penetrations 16-2 on shots and 3/11- 0/2 on penalty corners. Possession percentage was a massive 64-36.
Japan play table leaders India whom they have never beaten. A 0-8 defeat in the 2018 Asian Games league match in Jakarta may still be rife in the memory despite the Japanese eventual surge to the gold medal.
A point would be enough for Japan to avoid fourth spot. A victory would take them to the top of the five-nation pool. Pakistan could escape to third spot, a rung below South Korea, should they pile up the goals against Bangladesh in the last league match. That’s assuming that India beat Japan in the first match on Sunday starting at 3.00 PM (IST).