In the Asian Champions Trophy final, India defeated China 1-0. The Asian Champions Trophy winners five times India triumphed once more on Tuesday, September 17, after putting up an outstanding show to defeat a determined Chinese team 1-0 in the 5th Asian Champions Trophy final.
China forced the reigning champions to fight for the win in the last minutes of the game, but Man of the Match Jugraj Singh gave India the lead in the 51st minute, contributing to the match’s outcome. In the inaugural edition of the tournament, India defeated China 3-0, and that was the result of the match. Although Harmanpreet Singh and his team were the clear favorites to win, the hosts did not give up lightly.
China had started the match trying to exert pressure on India’s defense in an attempt to get anything done. This was evident in the opening match between the two teams, as China was eager to punish India and take advantage of the break. The first meaningful chance for India came early in the first quarter when Sukhjeet attempted a cheeky shot that the Chinese goalkeeper expertly stopped.
The Chinese defense squad also prevented India’s first computer from entering the game when it did so in the ninth minute. India was going to grab another one, and this time, Harmanpreet was not even in the running to win it. After the two, China would pin Krishan Pathak into a few penalty corners.
China had parked the bus so that India could not pass them, and for the most part, they remained to stand guard during the second quarter.
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Harmanpreet’s attempt to take advantage of a mistrapped PC in the 27th minute would present India with a significant opportunity, but it went off the post. India was granted a penalty stroke shortly afterward, which Wang had originally received for taking out Manpreet Singh. However, China checked it and found that it was tied 0-0 at the break, so the result went in their favor.
India would mount a number of impressive forays into the Chinese D during the third quarter of the game, but the Chinese defense held firm. A few PCs would reach China, but the Indian defense managed to restrain them. A few PCs that we managed to get were halted by the Indian defense line. Pathak made his stop in the forty-first minute; he would go on to have an excellent PC effort.
In the last minutes, India attempted to apply more pressure when Hundal invaded the defensive end, but his attempt was unsuccessful as he missed the goal. India applied pressure, but China remained unfazed as both sides entered the last quarter of the game tied.
India would have put all the pressure on early in the quarter and only broke the tie in the 51st minute. Following Harmanpreet’s spectacular foray into the D, Jugraj undoubtedly scored the equalizer. Now was the moment for China to try applying maximum pressure to India, disregarding all caution. As they searched for the game-tying goal, they even sent a flying goalkeeper onto the field. However, given that India had prevailed, the Indian defense was ultimately fairly strong.
