Avik Roy
Bhubaneswar, May 9: India blanked Japan 4-0 in the last match of the four-match Test series here Saturday at the Kalinga Stadium, to clinch the series 3-0. Forward Akashdeep singh scored a brace while VR Raghunath and Dharamveer Singh scored a goal apiece.
In the first quarter both sides created opportunities but failed to convert their chances. The first real chance came in Japan’s but Fujimito Ippei’s hit went wide. A few minutes later Kijamoto Enji missed a sitter. India got their first real chance just before the stoppage time, but Akashdeep’s hit went just over the bar.
India got their first penalty corner of the game in the seventh minute of the second quarter but Rupinder Singh hit the side netting. However, they scored in the 10th minute when Raghunath converted India’s second penalty corner with a rasping hit. They doubled the lead three minutes later when Yuvraj Walmiki with some dazzling stickwork hoodwinked four Japanese defenders and found an unmarked Akashdeep who just had to tap the ball into the net.
India got their third goal on a counter-attack. Sardar Singh intercepted an Ippei pass and found Dharamveer with a long ball. The latter promptly send the ball to the roof of the net.
The fourth quarter was completely dominated by the hosts who attacked relentlessly and the pressure paid off when Akashdeep scored off a solo effort. India continued to attack, but Walmiki and Akashdeep were guilty of missing a couple of easy scoring opportunities.
