FIH Women's Nations Cup 2022: India beat Japan 2-1 to move a step closer to semi-finals
The Indian women's hockey squad defeated Japan 2-1 in their second group-stage clash of the 2022 FIH Women's Nations Cup campaign at Estadio Betero in Valencia, Spain, on December 12
The Indian women's hockey defeated Japan 2-1India continued with their winning momentum against Japan after winning their opening match over Chile on December 11.
Within regulation time, Salima Tete in the fifth minute and Beauty Dungdung in the 40th minute were the goalscorers for India. In contrast, Rui Takashima, in the 49th minute, was the lone goalscorer for Japan.
The Indian side did not waste time and began aggressively from the get-go. The attackers started with different variations to create fantastic opportunities to score.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Introducing the 8️⃣ teams for the first ever Women's FIH Hockey Nations Cup 🏆<br><br>Pool A: 🇰🇷🇮🇹🇪🇸☘️<br>Pool B: 🇮🇳🇯🇵🇨🇱🇿🇦<br><br>In less than one week, these eight nations will go head to head for a place in next season's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIHProLeague?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIHProLeague</a> 🙌<br><br>Every game is live on the <a href="https://twitter.com/watchdothockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@watchdothockey</a> app 📲 <a href="https://t.co/zKl4ONml44">pic.twitter.com/zKl4ONml44</a></p>— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIH_Hockey/status/1599766604895907840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Tete displayed excellent ball control and tackling skills to fire the ball past the Japanese goalkeeper Eika Nakamura in the fifth minute after receiving a perfect cross from Navjot Kaur.
Japan got an opportunity to level the score in the ending stages of the first quarter but the Indian defence held firm to maintain their lead. India continued their winning momentum in the second quarter but failed to extend their leave.
India won a penalty corner at the beginning of the third quarter, but Gurjit Kaur's attempt exceeded the crossbar. Dungdung made and fantastic tackle and slotted the ball into the net to finally double the lead for India in the 40th minute.
It was the first international goal for the Indian debutant Dungdung. The Japanese side scored a consolation goal in the 49th minute and even won a penalty corner in the final moments but failed to equalize the score.
India now stand at the top of the Pool B table with six points, while the host Spain are at the top of Pool A with six points from two consecutive wins.
India will lock horns with South Africa in their final pool B clash of the FIH Women's Nations Cup on December 14.