Kentaro Fukuda scored twice as Japan rallied to defeat Malaysia 2-1 and secure second place in the Hero Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament standings at Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar on Monday.
Malaysia, the Asian Games silver medalist, suffered its second consecutive defeat after losing 4-2 to India on Sunday. The loss dropped Malaysia to third place with nine points, behind Japan, which finished its pool campaign with 10 points from three wins and a draw in five matches.
Earlier, Bangladesh earned its first point of the tournament by holding China to a 1-1 draw.
Fukuda scored in the 24th and 54th minutes to overturn Malaysia’s early lead and was named player of the match.
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Following a day’s rest, the tournament’s second phase will begin Wednesday at Olympian Balbir Singh Senior Hockey Stadium in Mohali.
The final day of pool play began with sparse attendance, with the medal-round qualifiers already decided. The stands filled as the second game progressed, and the Japan-Malaysia result determined their final positions and semifinal matchups.
Japan entered the game seeking a win after conceding a last-minute equalizer against China, while Bangladesh sought its first point after joining the tournament as a replacement team.
India, with four wins in as many matches, led the standings heading into its final pool game against Korea.
Japan had an early opportunity to take the lead against Malaysia when the umpire awarded a penalty stroke following a video review of a goalmouth scramble in the ninth minute. However, T. Watanabe’s weak attempt was comfortably saved by the Malaysian goalkeeper.
Less than a minute later, Malaysia went ahead through Abu Kalam Azrai’s opportunistic field goal in the 10th minute.
Malaysia settled into the game and controlled much of the play, but Japan equalized in the 24th minute. Fukuda neatly deflected the ball into the goal after Yamanaka sent it into the circle.
Malaysia faced another anxious moment in the third quarter when Japan was awarded a penalty stroke after an attacker lost possession while attempting a shot. Following a video review, the decision was changed to a bully restart.
Malaysia earned a penalty corner in the 43rd minute, but Japan’s defense kept the scores level. Fukuda then struck in the 54th minute to give Japan the win.
In the day’s opening game, Bangladesh recovered from an early deficit to draw with China. Both teams finished their pool campaigns without a victory.
China took the lead in the second minute when Chen Benhai converted its first penalty corner.
Bangladesh had received a late invitation to the tournament after Pakistan, the bronze medalist at the Aichi Asian Games, withdrew over security concerns about traveling to Punjab, India.
After trailing for much of the match, Bangladesh equalized in the 38th minute through a penalty stroke awarded following its third penalty corner. Aslam Ashraful converted with a sharp, angled flick.
Both teams pressed for a winner, but neither could break the deadlock.
