Dhaka: Favourites India produced yet another clinical performance to maul minnows Bangladesh 7-0, registering their second consecutive win at the men’s Asia Cup hockey tournament, here Friday. In their opener, India had beaten Japan 5-1.
India scored five goals in the first two quarters. After the change of ends, they relaxed a little, but even then added two more goals. Gurjant Singh (seventh minute), Akashdeep Singh (10th), Lalit Upadhyay (13th), Amit Rohidas (20th), Harmanpreet Singh (28th, 47th) and Ramandeep Singh (46th) were the goal scorers for India in the Pool A encounter.
However, one thing which might be a cause of concern for chief coach Sjoerd Marijne is the penalty corner conversion rate. India could manage to convert only two of the 13 penalty corners in the match.
India started off proceedings strongly and took the lead when, Gurjant deflected in a Rohidas pass. Akashdeep then made it 2-0 when he pushed into the net, a Sunil pass three minutes later. Upadhyay made it 3-0 in favour of India, when he slotted home after being set by Akashdeep.
India earned their first penalty corner in the next minute but Harmanpreet’s effort was way off the target. Rohidas, lurking inside the ‘D’, then made it 4-0 when he deflected in Gurjant’s cross from the right flank.
Two minutes from half time, India were awarded a penalty stroke and Harmanpreet stepped up to score his first goal of the day to give India an emphatic 5-0 lead at the interval.
Two minutes minute into the final quarter, Ramandeep scored with a variation from India’s ninth penalty corner to make the scoreline 6-0.
The Indians secured four more penalty corners soon, the third of which was converted by Harmanpreet with a powerful high flick to the top right corner of Bangaldesh goal.
The Indians next play arch rivals Pakistan in their last pool encounter, Sunday.
Meanwhile in the other match of Pool A, Japan held Pakistan to a 2-2 draw.
Press trust of India
