Bangladesh beat Indonesia for second straight Asian Games hockey win

Bangladesh beat Indonesia 3-1 in men's hockey at the Asian Games in Gifu on Saturday morning, sealing a second successive win and keeping alive their hopes of reaching the knockouts before a daunting finale against India.

Indonesia's Fatur reduced the deficit with a penalty stroke in the 48th minute, but by then Bangladesh already held a commanding three-goal cushion built through two Amirul Islam strikes and a fine late finish from Russell Mahmud Jimi, leaving the scoreline safely out of reach.

Jimi's goal in the 37th minute carried extra significance. The forward had been out of the national set-up for roughly eighteen months and was widely considered out of contention, making his return to the scoresheet one of the more heartening subplots of Bangladesh's group campaign.

Bangladesh's platform had been set by penalty-corner specialist Amirul Islam, who struck in the 11th minute to send his side in 1-0 up at the break after a goalless second quarter, then added a second just a minute into the third to double the lead.

The win follows heavy defeats to South Korea (5-0) and hosts Japan (6-1) in Bangladesh's opening fixtures, before a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Sri Lanka turned the campaign around. The red-and-greens now face a formidable India in their final group match on September 28.