Asian Champions Trophy 2023: India Crush China 7-2 with Clinical Performance
India started their campaign in the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy with a convincing 7-2 win over China at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai on Thursday. The hosts displayed their superior skills and tactics against a hapless Chinese side, who were outplayed in every department.
India’s penalty corner prowess
One of the key factors behind India’s dominant win was their efficiency in converting penalty corners. India earned six penalty corners in the match and scored from four of them, with drag-flickers Harmanpreet Singh and Varun Kumar scoring two goals each.
Harmanpreet opened the scoring for India in the fifth minute with a powerful flick that beat the Chinese goalkeeper. He doubled the lead three minutes later with another precise flick that found the bottom corner. Varun added to the tally in the 19th minute with a low flick that went through the legs of the goalkeeper. He scored his second goal in the 30th minute with a variation that caught the Chinese defense off guard.
India’s penalty corner execution was flawless, as they showed good coordination and variation. They also exploited China’s weakness in defending penalty corners, as the Chinese rushers failed to close down the space and put pressure on the Indian flickers.
India’s attacking flair
Apart from their penalty corner efficiency, India is also impressed with their attacking flair and creativity. They created numerous chances with their fast-paced and fluid passing and also used their individual skills to beat the Chinese defenders.
Sukhjeet Singh scored India’s third goal in the 15th minute with a brilliant solo run from the right flank, as he dribbled past three defenders and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper. Akashdeep Singh scored India’s fourth goal in the 16th minute with a deft touch that redirected a cross from Gurjant Singh into the goal.
Mandeep Singh scored India’s seventh and final goal in the 40th minute with a clever deflection that changed the direction of Varun’s drag-flick. India’s forwards showed good movement and positioning and also combined well with each other to create havoc in the Chinese circle.
India’s defensive lapses
The only blemish in India’s performance was their defensive lapses that allowed China to score two goals. India conceded their first goal in the 17th minute when they lost possession in China’s half and allowed Wenhui E to launch a counter-attack. Varun failed to control a high ball and Wenhui ran past him and Jugraj Singh to score from a tight angle.
India conceded their second goal in the 28th minute when Jarmanpreet Singh received a yellow card for a foul and China capitalized on their numerical advantage. Gurjant Singh committed another foul in the circle and China earned a penalty corner, which was converted by Jiesheng Gao with a low flick.
India’s coach Craig Fulton was not pleased with these ‘soft goals’, as he called them at half-time. He urged his players to be more disciplined and focused, and not to get complacent or careless. India need to avoid such mistakes against stronger opponents like Malaysia and South Korea, who can punish them for their errors.
| Team | Shots | Shots on target | Penalty corners | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 23 | 15 | 6 | 7 |
| China | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
