How India overcame a 1-0 deficit and smashed Japan to defend Asian Champions Trophy
The Indian Express · Nitin Sharma ·
The game slipping away, they went full press to foil the opponent's highly effective man-to-man marking
The scoreline read 4-1 in India’s favour. But it did not convey the drama, and emotions the final between India and Japan produced in the Asian Champions Trophy final at Mohali’s Balbir SIngh Senior International Stadium.
The mood before the game was one of merriment. Bhangra beats echoed in the stands. The crowd was upbeat of the hosts’ triumph, as India had beaten Japan with an identical scoreline in the group stage. But it took only three minutes into the match for agony to descend. Kazumasa Matsumoto’s gorgeous reverse hit found the back of the net and silenced the crowd. For 41 minutes, India laboured, suffered several nearly moments, and saw frustration creep in. But Shilaland Lakra’s 42nd minute strike not only put the game on the balance but opened the floodgates of a goal deluge. Six minutes on, Dilpreet Singh scored, followed by strikes from Jugraj Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad. In 12 minutes of frenzy, India effectively wrapped up a memorable comeback to lift their sixth ACT crown.
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