Asian powerhouse Japan cantered to a comfortable 3-0 win over Bangladesh on Friday to book a place in the fifth-position playoff match at the 9th Men’s Hockey Asia Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia.
Bangladesh were no match for their illustrious opponents as they fell to their fourth defeat in as many games – their previous three defeats coming against South Korea (0-9), Oman (2-4) and India (1-9).
Japan, ranked 16th, took the lead in the ninth minute through Toshiro Tachibana before Samurai captain Koji Kayukawa doubled the lead in the 26th minute. Toshiro notched his second and the team’s third goal in the dying stages of the game.
Japan will take on Oman in the fifth-place playoff today while Bangladesh will clash with Chinese Taipei on the same day in the seventh-place deciding match.
-With New Age input
