s2h Team
Two defenders, Harmanpreet Singh and Jugraj Singh, combined well to score the only goal of the final, field effort at that, in the latest edition of the Asian Champions Trophy last year, as their rival China withstood every pressure the Indian forwards exerted to score a goal till then. Heroics of such nature has to emerge today from India in the crucial super 4s match against resurgent China.
With a win and draw in the Super 4s, India will look forward to beat China in its do-or-die battle today at the Rajgir Sports Complex to ensure its place in the final, though a draw would suffice. Whereas the ever-improving China will put everything at its disposal to cause an upset on the hosts. China needs outright win and favourble goal difference to make their maiden Asia Cup entry. Whatever, the mere fact that none of the teams are sure of being in the final till now, and it would be decided only after today’s matches speak volume about the increasing competitiveness of the Asia Cup.
India has never lost to China in the history of the Asia Cup, but when it failed to win and ended up draw — only time to be so — it proved disastrous for it. India, Pakistan and China were in the 3-team pool at Kuantan Asia Cup (2009). India needed an outright win against China to enter the semifinal — there was no Super 4s then — after losing its opener to Pakistan. It was not to be. India thus made a dubious history, of not making it to the Asia Cup medals round. India won medals ten out of 11 times. The lone exception was Kuantan, it happened because of freak draw with China.
India therefore keep the history in mind and go all out not to repeat a Kuantan in Rajgir.
India, seemed subdued but somehow managed not to lose any match till now, will be playing its 68th Asia Cup match. The fantastic encounter it had yesterday against Malaysia, which has rekindled its title hopes was India’s FIFTIETH win out of 68 matches it played so far in the annals of the Asia Cup.
INDIA’s historical Asia Cup record (including Rajgir)
Played: 68
Won: 50
Drawn: 9
Lost: 9
Goals for: 331
Goals Against: 81
China’s historical Asia Cup record (Including Rajgir)
Played: 52
Won: 22
Drawn: 9
Lost: 21
Goals for : 144
Goals Against: 112