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Guangzhou, Nov 21 (PTI) Sandeep Singh fired in two penalty corner goals as India defeated Japan 3-2 to notch up their fourth consecutive win and finish at the top of Group B in the hockey competitions of the Asian Games here today. Sandeep kept a cent per cent record in penalty corners today, converting the two short corners India earned in the day with precision in the 38th and 62nd minute to see his team finish the group stages on an impressive note.
The other goal-getter for India, was captain Rajpal Singh in the 31st minute. For Japan, Hiroki Sakamoto (21st and 63rd minute) scored both their goals from field efforts, once in each half.
With four wins out of as many matches, India finished on top of Group B with 12 points, while arch-rivals Pakistan finished second with nine points. India will now take on the Group A runners-up Malaysia, who beat China 4-2 in another league tie, in the semi-final on November 23 while Pakistan will be up against formidable Korea in the other last four match.
Against the Japanese today, the Indian defence was not at its best and was rattled by the opponent attackers. The Rajpal-led side was lucky as Japan failed to convert their chances into goals.
Contrary to the result, Japan had the better of the opening exchanges and could have gone ahead in the ninth minute through their first penalty corner but for Indian custodian Bharat Chetri who came out with a superb save to keep the slate clean. Soon after, Rajpal muffed a gilt-edged chance created by Arjun Halappa.
But Japan eventually broke the deadlock in the 21st minute when Sakamoto''s powerful shot from an angle beat Chetri all ends up after he was fed by a cross sent in by Tomonori Osa. .
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