India beat Japan 4-1 in Mohali to win Asian Champions Trophy
India defeated Japan 4-1 in the final of the Asian Champions Trophy in Mohali on November 5, 2026, completing a comeback to claim the title.
Japan struck early through Matsumoto in the fourth minute, forcing the hosts to work against a disciplined Japanese defence in the opening half while playing in front of a buoyant home crowd. India struggled to create clear chances for much of the first 30 minutes, with Japanese defenders isolating Indian forwards and limiting shooting opportunities. Pressure on India increased after Dilpreet was penalised for failing to stop play, gifting Japan a penalty corner, and a subsequent successful video referral against Harmanpreet yielded another Japanese set-piece. Abhishek produced a near chance in the first quarter with a shot that went wide as Angad Bir made a supporting run.
The match turned in the third quarter when a variation on an Indian penalty corner led to Shilanand poking the ball into the net at 42 minutes; a long umpire referral followed and the TV umpire awarded the goal to India. Earlier at 41 minutes India had another penalty corner but Harmanpreet was stopped by the Japan goalkeeper. That sequence levelled the game and shifted momentum toward the hosts.
India intensified their attack and broke the deadlock in the fourth quarter when Dilpreet produced a reverse hit from inside the D at 49 minutes to put India ahead, drawing the crowd to their feet. The team continued to press rather than sit deep after taking the lead, which resulted in sustained possession and further chances. Coach Craig Fulton was seen animated from the dugout urging more intensity as India searched for a decisive cushion.
Jugraj extended the lead at 52 minutes with a powerful strike that forced the Japan line defender to duck, a goal described in commentary as one that should secure the win. Immediately after, India earned another penalty corner, with Harmanpreet again named to take set-pieces. Two minutes later Vivek Sagar Prasad finished a rally with a volley at 54 minutes, the ball arriving from a scramble around the D and finding the net to make it 4-1.
Suraj had been beaten by Matsumoto's early reverse-hit, but India’s four goals in the second half overwhelmed Japan’s defence and sealed the victory. The scoring sequence was Matsumoto (4'), Shilanand (42'), Dilpreet (49'), Jugraj (52') and Vivek Sagar Prasad (54').
The win secured India their sixth Asian Champions Trophy title and caps off a fine few months for the hosts, who have now the Asian Games gold and the ACT title.
