Late surge give India a point against Japan

A three minute blitzkrieg that saw Indians striking a brace of goal gave India a point, enable them to maintain the top spot in the points table despite losing the match against Japan today in the fourth match.

India was taken aback by a stunner of a goal by Japan in the fourth minute and then four minutes before the half time Japan again converted its second penalty corner to send jitters in the Indian team.

However, in an otherwise dull day for the Indians, Soundarya Yandala dived to her right to connect a Jaspreet’s penalty corner push to inject life in the game (2-1) in the 62nd minute. Two minutes later, Anupa Barla struck to bring the score on par.

In the ensued one-to-one face off with goalie, Indians did badly losing first three attempts, Chanchan Devi, Vnadana and Ritu missing out while despite missing the third and fourth face off, Japan won the tie as it won the first two and the fifth.

As per the new rules, the drawn teams gets one point each and the winner in the tie-break another point.

Therefore India got one point, and the visitors two points.

India however continues to top the points table, as it has a win more than Japan’s two. Both teams have 10 points each.

Earlier, India could have wrapped up the tie in its favour had it used the chances it created. India got, fr instance, four penalty corners in the last moments of first half, but the process was not up to the mark.