Asia Cup: Wasteful India whip Bangladesh
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.
India scored five goals in the first two quarters while another two after the change of ends.
Gurjant Singh (7th 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.
Indians were completely in control but their penalty corner conversion should be a cause of concern for chief coach Sjoerd Marije. India secured as many as 13 short corners in four quar- ters but could make use of just two. The deadlock could have been broken in the 3rd minute but SV Sunil’s shot from a loose ball was saved by home team goalkeeper.
But in the seventh minute, Gurjant deflected in a Amit Rohidas pass to give India the lead. Akashdeep made it 2-0 when he pushed into the net a Sunil pass three minutes later.
Lalit Upadhyay made it 3-0 when he slotted home after being set by Akashdeep. India earned their first penalty corner in the next minute but Harmanpreet’s effort off target. Rohidas, lurking insde the D, then made it 4-0 when he deflected in Gurjant’s cross from the right flank. India soon got four backto-back penalty corners but wasted all. Two minutes from half-time, India were awarded a penalty stroke and Harmanpreet converted it to give them a 5-0 lead.
Ramandeep then scored from India’s ninth penalty corner to make it 6-0. India secured four more penalty corners, the third of which was converted by Harmanpreet with a high flick.
INDIA SCORED FIVE GOALS IN THE FIRST TWO QUARTERS WHILE ANOTHER TWO AFTER THE CHANGE OF ENDS