Boom (Belgium): India, disappointed that they couldn't enter the Champions Challenger final, took their frustrations out on the Japanese, beating them 4-3 in their final league engagement here on Saturday.
The victory over Japan enables them to play for the third/fourth position on Sunday.
It was a little late in the day as Sandeep Singh ran into form when he perfectly flicked home giving India the lead. Further goals by Prabhjot Singh (2) and Dilip Tirkey ensured a more or less comfortable win for India. Japan, helped by losses of concentration in the Indian defence, in the second half, were able to cut the lead to 3-4.
Indian coach Joaquim Carvalho, looking disappointed, said, "We are unhappy not to be in the final. And that sometimes showed on the play. But the team held on and did well to beat Japan."
For the first time in the tournament, Indian forwards combined well with Rajpal, Prabhjot, Tushar combining well to unsettle the Japanese defence.
It was a little surprising that Shivender Singh wasn't given a long run in the match. The few minutes that he got, he showed his sharpness in the striking circle by teaming up well with Rajpal and Tushar.
Damandeep Singh was yet again disappointing. Though he played up, he showed have come down the field to pick up the ball. Loitering upfront didn't do any good to the Indians as he hardly had the ball to show any positive play in his time spent on the pitch.
Bimal Lakra played what everyone expects of him. His runs were razor sharp and he played his role of the pivot to perfection. Time and again, his positioning was excellent; picking up the ball in the middle and running hard down the centre to give some excellent through balls. One of his runs in the 34th minute saw him speed past the Japanese defenders before he placed the ball perfectly for Prabhjot Singh to strike home a fantastic goal from the top of the circle.
Rajpal Singh was also in form and some of his most unsettling runs through the Japanese defence happened when he cut through the middle. Time and again, it has been said that Rajpal should be allowed to play through the middle rather than as an outside right. With his skills and speed, he can cut through the defence with ease. Playing as a right-out, his crosses lack the sting to either reach his teammates or the solidity to deflect off defenders sticks.
Prabhjot does have his little band of detractors but for today, the Indian Oil forward did show that he hasn't lost his scoring touch by hammering in two goals, the second a fluent strike from the top of the circle.
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Dilip must have been upset after the game against Argentina, especially the error against Almada that enabled Argentina to score a second goal and close the match off. Determination to erase that memory, Dilip was brilliant scoring a goal and after a long time showing his skills to move up time and again. He did break ranks constantly but he had the Japanese midfield not taking things for granted.
India should have showed urgency in the second half to get in more goals and give a shot of confidence to the team but defensive errors pegged India back enabling Japan to run them close.
India had two penalty corners immediately after the break. The fifth saw India use a variation for the first time in the tournament. Gurbaj turned the ball in for Dilip to take a direct hit but the former Indian captain's shot edged off the Japanese goalkeeper's boots before going out.
At the other end, Japan, after a fast counter-attack earned their fourth penalty corner in the 47th minute and made it count when Takahiko Yamabori flicked in past the Indian goalkeeper Baljit Singh.
Prabhjot, full of confidence after scoring two goals, made a super run down the left flank and earned India's sixth penalty corner. With Sandeep Singh on the bench, Dilip came up to take the hit, delayed it a bit as the Japanese goalkeeper fell in anticipation. Dilip smashed the ball between the pads and the post.
India was holding the ball well but with five minutes to go, a defensive error from the captain Prabodh Tirkey enabled Japan to cut the Indian lead to 3-4. A free hit from outside the circle sped in and Prabodh let the ball go without realizing that Kazuhiro Tsubouchi was lurking behind him. The Japanese dived forward to deflect the ball in past the goalkeeper Baljit Singh.
Japan pressed hard in the remaining minutes and with India down to ten men as Sunil Yadav had been shown the yellow card; players were pulled back to defend.
With the 4-3 victory over Japan, India now play for third/fourth position on Sunday. India's opponents would be either Belgium or England.
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