~ The goal-fest enthralled a packed stadium in Moqi Hockey Coaching Base on Day 1 of the marquee continental championship ~
Moqi (China), 08 September 2024: Hero Asian Champions Trophy Moqi, China bought off to a rollicking begin right here on the picturesque Moqi Hockey Coaching Base on Sunday with Japan and Korea partaking in a goal-fest with 10 objectives being scored in an exhilarating encounter. The passionate hockey followers of the area who turned up in giant numbers have been enthralled with the match happening to the wire as Korea held Japan to a 5-5 draw.
For Korea, objectives have been scored by Jihun Yang (3′, 38′, 53′), Junghoo Kim (31′) and Hyeonhong Kim (58′) whereas Naru Kimura (7′), Kazumasa Matsumoto (18′), Yuki Chiba (25′), Yusuke Kawamura (36′) and Kosei Kawabe (54′) scored for Japan.
Within the opening quarter, Korea set the tempo with fierce assault that resulted in a penalty stroke inside the first three minutes of the sport.
Jihun Yang was on-target, sending the ball previous Japanese goalie Yosei Oba fetching an early 1-0 lead in solely the third minute of the match. Japan was fast to reply with a seventh minute subject purpose by way of Naru Kimura. Forward of their opening match, the Japanese Captain Fujishima Raika had emphasised on his staff’s structured defence and counter assaults and that’s precisely what his staff displayed in opposition to Korea.
They rallied on quick passes to interrupt into the putting circle and have been fast to increase the lead when Kazumasa Matsumoto scored within the 18th minute. The second quarter belonged to the Japanese as they made little errors as they blitzed their strategy to a advantageous 3-1 lead when Yuki Chiba struck a splendid subject purpose within the twenty fifth minute placing the Korean defence beneath severe stress.
After the ten-minute half-time break, Korea bounced again with a well-converted subject purpose by Junghoo Kim within the thirty first minute, thus serving to his staff to slender down the purpose deficit to 2-3. The goal-fest continued within the third quarter with Japan’s Yusuke Kawamura sending one previous Korea’s Jaehan Kim within the thirty sixth minute, taking their result in a robust 4-2 however a resilient Korea diminished Japan’s result in 4-3 within the thirty eighth minute with Jihun Yang’s brilliantly-executed PC. Whereas Korea ended up incomes a few penalty corners, the Japanese defence held sturdy on this quarter.
With the scoreboard studying 4-3 as the sport went into the ultimate quarter, the 2 groups did effectively to carry their nerves and produce entertaining hockey. Tactical assault by Korea helped them early a vital PC within the 53rd minute and Jihun Yang was on-target for the third time, scoring the much-needed equaliser.
Sadly, their defence allowed a purpose within the very subsequent minute as Kosei Kawabe scored by way of a quick-fire counter assault. With nearly three minutes left for the ultimate hooter, Korea earned back-to-back PCs. Hyeonhong Kim got here up with good execution to attain Korea’s fifth purpose and thus efficiently held Japan to a draw and cut up the profitable factors.
Hero of the Match, Chiba Yuki of Japan, expressed happiness on profitable the award. He mentioned, “It was a improbable match at the moment and it was our efforts in counter assault that resulted in so many objectives. Though we didn’t win, we’ll bounce again tomorrow in opposition to India. I’m additionally very completely satisfied about profitable the Hero of the Match title.”