Chennai:India and Japan played out a 1-1 draw in a closely contested match at the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament at Chennai's Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium on Friday. India, which had won its first match of the tournament against China 7-2, squandered several chances to secure a win against a gritty Japanese side.
Harmanpreet Singh scored for the home side at the 43rd minute and remained as the lone goal scorer for India while Ken Nagayoshi scored at the 28th minute to give Japan a head start.
The reigning Asian Games Champions Japan got off on a right tempo building pressure on the hosts in the first quarter. India did well to win back-to-back Penalty Corners early in the game, but could not covert them.
Taiki Takade who was within five metres from India's free hit prompted a PC. India couldn't trap the ball on the top of the circle even after three retakes. Vivek Sagar Prasad's reverse hit was met with Japan's defence denying India's early opportunity. India's similar bursts in the opening quarter kept the home crowds enthralled.
The following minutes saw Hardik and Gurjant Singh lead a fine counter and set up Karthi on the baseline. Japan again denied India's opportunity with its fine defending. Later in the 14th minute, India lost another opportunity to score.
In the second quarter, India got two chances with Akashdeep Singh and Gurjant working in tandem. Both did not fructify. Sumit came up with another with his swipe at the goal but couldn't send the ball beyond Yoshikawa.
While India was chasing its elusive goal, a defensive error in the 28th minute came as a welcome PC for Japan. Ken Nagayoshi's exceptional play helped him covert the goal. He gave his team the head start it needed in the game, while mounting pressure on the Indian side.
The next chance created by Japan two minutes later was saved by Krishan Pathak.