K. ARUMUGAM
Playing its 60th match in the annals of Sultan of Johor Cup, India registered its 35th win in its tenth appearance today when beat Japan 4-2 in the opener. Thus, the Indian team led by Amir Ali, coached by PR Sreejesh — his maiden role as coach — added four more goals to its whopping 208 kitty. Its also 8th opening match win and only the third in five meets against Japan.
The Amir Ali led Indian team made an impressive start with a stunning 4-2 win against Japan. Goals were scored by Amir Ali (12′), Gurjot Singh (36′), Anand Sourabh Kushwaha (44′) and Ankit Pal (47′) in India’s win while Tsubasa Tanaka (26′) and Rakusei Yamanaka (57′) scored for Japan.
It was a high-octane match right from the start with India juniors playing attacking hockey, looking for scoring opportunities early in the game.
They punctured Japanese defence when Amir Ali scored a fine field goal in the 12th minute of the match. Japan bounced back from this early setback when Tsubasa Tanaka scored in the 26th minute to equalise. This equaliser didn’t dent India’s spirit as they stopped Japan from taking a 2-1 lead when Neo Sato and Yuto Higuchi worked in tandem to set up a fine shot on goal, thanks to India goalie Ali Khan who was impressive in the goalpost to make a fine save.
Six minutes after the half-time break, India regained their lead when Gurjot Singh, who had made his senior international debut at the Asian Champions Trophy last month, scored a fine field goal. He was brilliantly assisted by Mohd Konain Dad to set up this goal and put India in good momentum. Only minutes later, Dilraj Singh tactfully helped India earn a crucial PC which helped them extend their lead to a strong 3-1 in the 44th minute. Anand Sourabh Kushwaha was on-target as his explosive dragflick flew past Japan’s goalie Kisho Kuroda.
India’s goal-fest continued into the final quarter with Ankit Pal scoring the team’s fourth goal in the 47th minute. He picked up a rebound from a PC to put the ball past Japan’s keeper. This put India in formidable position.
Though Japan converted a goal in the 57th minute through Rakusei Yamanaka, India stayed ahead 4-2. There were some nervy moments as the match inched towards the final hooter with Indian attackers upping the ante, hunting for a fifth goal. But Japan’s goalie Koki Origasa did well to keep the goal at bay as India ended the play with a fine 4-2 win.