Archive India-Japan Test Series 2015

Test-1
First match ends in 1-1 draw

Bhubaneswar, 3 May 2015: The opener of the 5-match test series between India and Japan did not go the way the Dutch import coach Paul van Ass would have expected, but turned out a good tiding for the visiting Japan.

Japan in fact stunned the hosts, took the lead and was successful in holding the lead for next 25 minutes. When India equalized at the fag end of third quarter, it was expected to turn in many more goals, but the Japanese did not yield.

The first match of the Indo Japan Series started with great speed and a determination to win. While Japan took the initial lead in the game and was leading the game 1-0, India came back into the game through a brilliant penalty corner conversion by VR Raghunath. Post the equalizer goal both the teams had their chances of going one up but failed to capitalize, resulting in the match getting drawn at 1-1. The game even marked the International debut for Harmanpreet Singh giving India the extra boost with his inclusion in the team.

The first quarter of the match saw both sides testing each other’s defense, while even trying to put pressure by capitalizing on the initial goal. As the quarter progressed both India and Japan maintained their attacks but were unable to score on the opportunities resulting in a dry run.

In the 19th minute a long pass by Hiroki Sakamoto to Daichi Kurogawa who was standing right in front of the goal box and who on his part deflected it into the nets giving no chance for the Indian goalie to react, resulting in Japan opening the scorecard 1-0. While this left the Indian men stunned but it did not deter their determination. Just five minutes left into the second quarter Japan again had a chance at the goal but this time PR Sreejesh cleared effortlessly. Minutes left into the quarter India increased its attack and Akashdeep tried put the ball into the nets through a backstroke but was saved by the Japan goalie. Unable to equalize the game at the end of first half Japan was leading the game 1-0.

Five minutes left into the third quarter India had a chance to score when a pass to Dharamvir Singh in the D was deflected towards the nets but unfortunately for India the Japan goalie saved. Same minute India again had a chance but Akashdeep failed to finish the touch, going on to lose the chance to score. In the 44th minute, India again had a chance through a penalty corner and VR Raghunath made no mistake in finding the nets and the equalizer goal for India. With game on at 1-1, it was anyone’s game from here.

The fourth quarter started with India immediately going into the attack as they looked at taking the lead in the game. Having another shot at the penalty corner but Rupinder Pal Singh was wide of the goal, losing the opportunity to go one up in the game. Post that both teams tried to cash on the half chances but failed to do so resulting in a 1-1 draw.

Test-2
Improved India beat Japan 2-0 in the Japan series

Bhubanewsar, 05 May 2015: India definitely showed improvement in most department of the game, save earning penalty co rners, and it showed on the scoreboard (2-0)today in the second match of the Japan Series.

After settling for a 1-1 draw against Japan in the first match of the Indo-Japan series, India confidently defeated Japan 2-0 in the second match of the series at Bhubaneswar today.

The match had an interesting start where both the teams came out all attacking and showcased a fast paced game from the very beginning. While Japan was looking for a calculative move to enter into the Indian side with their long passes, the strong Indian boys were seen in full throttle to strengthen their defence line and create an initial opening in the match. With both the teams unable to score on the opportunities, the first quarter of the game went goalless.

In the second quarter both the teams were seen playing defensively waiting for the right moment to net the ball. Despite very positive play from Japan, the Indian side created several scoring opportunities as Birendra Lakra perfectly placed himself and passed the ball to Gurmail Singh who tried hitting the right flank but failed to hit the crossbar.

India took an early lead in the game when Yuvraj Walmiki gave a fine pass to Uthappa who flawlessly struck a beautiful field goal in the 27th minute of the game. The scores at half time stood at 1-0 with India in the forefront.

With a lead of 1-0 over Japan, the confident Indian boys tried to build pressure on the opponent team in the third quarter of the match and displayed some lovely moves and interceptions. India intensified their game play supported duly by Pradeep Mor who made several attempts to score while the Japanese boys were seen a little restless as they could not find any gaps to put the ball in the net. Amidst a very well organized defense from both the teams, the third quarter remained goal-less before giving way to the last quarter.

The fourth and the last quarter of the game began with the same momentum and the Indian team was seen attacking from the right flank. Japan made quick moves and continued to restrict the opponents to get into the circle until Dharamvir displayed a beautiful piece of action and effortlessly attacked the Japanese defence in the 48th minute, landing the ball into the nets taking the lead to 2-0.

Going on with the attack, Yuvraj Walmiki made a reverse stick shot but Japanese defence stood tall and the Indian efforts went in vain. While, the Japanese boys showed an impressive positioning sense on field throughout the game, the scoreboard showed a final score of 2-0 at the blow of the final whistle announcing a win for India.

Test-3
IJ TS: India edge past Japan 2-1 to seal the series

Bhubanewsar, 07 May 2015: VR Raghunath and Akashdeep Singh shone as India beat their Asian counter-parts Japan 2-1 in a thrilling third test of the series in Bhubneswar.

With this laborious win, the hosts sealed the series with one more test to go. The Sardar Singh & Co were right on their mission from the start of the first quarter. For Japan they have their chances but couldn’t capitalize much, after a tough fight Japan’s Hirotaka Wakari scored the lone goal for his team.

In the first quarter of the match, it was Japan who attacked first from the left flank and pressurised the Indian players. They continued with their long passes and kept the Indian players busy through-out the quarter. But they faced a tough defence from Birendra Lakra, K Chinglensana and VR Raghunath, who foiled Japanese attacks. Very soon Indian players charged back on the Japanese side led by Sardar Singh and with the help of their short passes, they manage to sneak into Japanese D in few occasions. However, they could not give perfect finishes to their passes and by the end of the quarter, the score-line was 0-0.

In the 2nd quarter, both the teams came on the field with more aggression and fought harder to create chances. In the 19th minute, Japan’s Tomonori Ono ran through the left flank where the captain found his fellow team-mate Hiroki Sakamoto in the circle, who took a reverse shot but that was nicely blocked stand-in-keeper Harjot SIngh. India charged back with series of counter attacks with the help of VR Raghunath and young Yuvraj Walmiki and kept the ball in the Japan’s half. In the last minute, Japan made a counter-attack and they entered in the Indian circle but Lakra again thwarted their attack again. In the 30th minute, India earned their first penalty corner after a quick attack. Dharamvir Singh pushed the ball in and Raghunath dragged it on the right of the Japanese goalie Suguru Shimmoto, who tried to stop it with his right hand but the ball reflected and went into the net. With this brilliant conversion, India took the early lead of 1-0 by the end of 2nd quarter.

In the 3rd quarter, India stepped on the field with more aggression and played an attacking game from the very first minute. On the other hand, Japanese played with a plan of marking each player. For India, Sardar Singh played very deep today and co-ordinating with the defenders and midfielders through-out the match. In the 36th minute, Akashdeep Singh ran with the ball, dribbling past the Japanese defenders and hit the ball towards the bar, which beat the Japanese keeper for the second goal for India. It was spectacular goal from Akashdeep who single-handedly scored the goal and extended the lead to 2-0. However, the joy was short-lived as Japanese counter-attacked on Indian side and managed to earn a penalty corner in the 44th minute, which was perfectly converted by Hirotaka Wakari. With this crucial goal, Japan reduced the margin by 1-2 by the end of the 3rd quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Japanese charged back on the Indian side with long passes and pushed the Indian players back to their half. Japan continued their attack and managed to reach near the Indian circle but Lakra was defending his area like a wall. In the 50th minute, India earned a penalty corner after a counter-attack. Sardar pushed in and young Harmanpreet dragged a powerful shot but it was saved by the Japanese goalie. Both the team fought neck-to-neck and tried harder to create more chances in the dying minutes. India took the ball near the goal-mouth in many occasions but they faced a stiff Japanese defence. Both the teams battled hard till the last minute but failed to convert opportunities in goals. The match was eventually finished with 2-1 score-line and India won the series with 2-0 with a match to spare.

Test-4
India routs Japan 4-0, wins the Indo-Japan Series 3-0

Bhubaneswar: Indian team continued their good run at the Indo-Japan Test Series to clean-sweep the four match series 3-0 at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubneswar. The home side was sublime in their own merry ways as they beat Japanese 4-0 to cash the series. This was Coach Paul Van’s first home series and the boys didn’t disappoint to his expectations. With this India will now be eyeing the FIH World League Semi-Final slated in Belgium next month.

The match started with both teams looking a scoring the initial goal. Halfway into the first quarter, Japan had a real chance as Daichi Kurogawa passed the ball to Ippei Fujimoto in the D, put the later missed the target and losing out on the opportunity score the initial goal. Seconds left into the game Yuvraj Walmiki slapped the ball into the D to SV Sunil but unfortunately for India Sunil could not connect and lost the opportunity, resulting in the quarter being a dry run.

Halfway into the second quarter India had their first chance on penalty corner but unfortunately for India, Rupinder Pal Singh hit off target resulting in missing out on the crucial opportunity. 26th minute and India had their second chance on the penalty corner yet again and this time VR Raghunath taking the flick did no mistake in finding the nets resulting in India taking the lead 1-0. Next minute India broke the shackles of the defence again and Akashdeep Singh scored a brilliant field goal, taking the lead to 2-0.

The third quarter started again in India’s favour as they maintain the attack and the pressure on Japan. In the 36th minute India added the third goal when SV Sunil passed eth ball to Dharamvir Singh who entered the D with the ball and slapped it past the goalkeeper giving no chance to the opponents to react. Post that Japan had yet another chance to score as Hiroki Sakamoto slapped the ball but Sreejesh saved yet again for India.

Immediately into the last quarter, Japan had their first chance on the penalty corner and a chance to score their first goal but unfortunately the ball was hit wide of the goal. Post that India upped the ante of their attack and was seen completely dominating the match thereon. In the 52nd minute, India had another chance as Ramandeep Singh had a clear chance to put the ball into the nets but unfortunately he hit directly at the Japan goalie and losing on converting. The very next minute India yet again Akashdeep tore past the defence of the opponents and beat the goalkeeper and scored a brilliant field goal, taking the score to 4-0. With this India won the game and the Series by 3-0.