India vs Japan Asian Games Hockey Highlights: Harmanpreet, Abhishek goals help India complete fourth successive win

A 2-0 win for India against the host, and that is the fourth consecutive win for Craig Fulton’s men in Pool A. 

With 12 points after four games, India has sealed its place in the semifinal. Since Japan and Korea face each other in the last contest, only one of those teams can reach the 12-point mark. 

Japan with an attack down the right flank, the ball is moved to the left and an aerial into the circle is followed by ball into the Indian foot.

PC for Japan.

Not the best trap, but the host manages to get a backhand shot away from the edge the circle. Goes just wide!

PC for India after Shilanand Lakra manages to push the ball onto the defender’s foot after a smart turn. 

Rajinder’s drag-flick is blocked. Another PC for India. 

For the third consecutive PC a sloppy trap from India and the chance goes begging.

Japan looks to counter after a misplaced Indian pass. The referee blows for a foul after an advanced tackle. 

The ball falls favourably for Rajkumar Pal in the right side of the D and his towahawk goes wide off the goal.

Mohith comes off his line to thwart an attack brewing from the right flank. Japan controlling the possession more over the last couple of minutes. 

PC for India after Yamada pushes Abhishek onto the turf. 

Jugraj with the drag-flick and the keeper does brilliantly well to get a right arm to it. 

Dilpreet almost adds a third just seconds before the hooter. A two-goal lead for India heading into the final period of play.

Japan sees a shot come off the upright after a strong backhand shot from the left side of the circle. The host comes close to reducing the deficit. 

PC for India after a stick check against Jarmanpreet. 

Harmanpreet’s shot is saved by the keeper and India reviews for a back-stick from the defender. 

Review successful. Another PC given. A third PC on the trot for India. 

A powerful aerial shot from Sukhjeet in the first battery but just flies wide of the left-hand post. 

Quick attack from India. Manpreet makes a run down the right and passes it to Abhishek who makes room and tries to find a shot but it is blocked by the defence. 

Jugraj has been shown a green card and will have to sit out for two minutes. 

PC for India after a foot inside the circle. 

GOAL!! The Japanese defence looked a little more laboured to get out and that allows the Indian captain to stroke the ball into the net. 

IND 2 – 0 JPN

A lobbed diagonal into the left allows Japan to play another dangerous pass in but Jugraj does well to block it with his stick and clear. 

India with a long corner after the Japan defence manages to close down another pass into the attacking third. 

Amit Rohidas’ shot careers off the crossbar and allows Japan to counter-attack. 

Aerial ball into the right from Japan and they manage to eke out a PC from that wave of attack. 

The drag-flick goes wide off the left-hand post after a touch. Japan reviews the call, saying it hit the foot of Harmanpreet. And they have been vindicated. 

India manages to clear the danger away after blocking the PC. Japan’s defence once again hares back to prevent an Indian attack. 

The steady drizzle has played its part today. The players are having to be careful with the ball on the wet turf. 

Dilpreet lobs a ball into the centre from the right baseline. Manpreet traps it and pushes it to Sukhjeet who did not read the pass. 

A misplaced pass from the Japanese defence allows India to start an attack, but Hardik is adjudged to have raised his stick dangerously. 

A closely fought half and it was Japan which had the better chances in the second quarter. Mohith H. S. called up twice to make a save and sustain the clean sheet. 

IND 1 – 0 JPN

Mohith with another crucial save with his right foot after the attackers danced into the circle along the right. Japan immediately run back to make up the numbers in defence. 

Dilpreet uses some smooth stick work to keep the ball in play near the right baseline. Two defenders surround him, and his unable to wriggle away and create a chance. 

Japan looks to create an opportunity down the right but Jugraj is placed perfectly to stop it and concede only a long corner. 

More controlled build-up from India compared to previous group stage encounters. Japan pressing well to keep India on its toes. 

PC for India. Third of the match. 

Jugraj’s drag-flick is saved by the keeper’s strong left foot. The defence clears the danger well after that. 

Japan has its best chance to equalise in this half, but Mohith H. S does his job in goal with an important save. 

Another brilliant aerial ball to Jarman on the right. Dangerous ball square into the goal mouth is defended well by Japan. 

Japan awarded another PC for an offence by Manpret. 

Fujishima’s drag-flick is blocked by the first rusher, Manpreet. 

A goal right at the end of the quarter for India despite not creating as much in the first 15-minute period. Craig Fulton’s side will look to press on and extend that advantage. 

Long diagonal into the right corner towards Sanjay, who manages to trap it and lay it off to Abhishek, whose tomahawk shot goes wide.

GOAL!! Abhishek opens the scoring for India. Stays calm and slots the ball into the left corner with a strong push. Sukhjeet almost got a touch on it but India didn’t need it. 

IND 1 – 0 JPN

Japan not letting India play out easily from the back. The man-to-man marking working a treat. 

Hardik looks to send Abhishek through with a quick pass but it is just ahead of the Indian striker.

Japan has the ball in the back of the net, but the whistle had blown for a PC before the shot was taken. A chance nonetheless for Japan.

Raiki Fujishima’s dragflick rolls out of bounds. 

Vivek Sagar Prasad wins the ball high up the pitch and tees up Dilpreet whose snapshot is wide. 

A tight encounter so far, Japan hasn’t allowed India to create many chances. India continues to press high to steal the ball high up the pitch. 

Japan’s first attacking opportunity and the side forces a save from Suraj Karkera after a poor clearance from Sumit. 

Second PC for India after the ball hits a Japanese defender’s foot again. 

Harman’s drag flick is blocked again, but this time another PC is awarded. His next shot is saved from the goal line. Excellent PC defence so far from the host. 

First PC for India as Manpreet receives a diagonal long ball and sweeps it into the defender’s foot. 

Harmanpreet’s dragflick is blocked by the first rusher. India deliberating with the referee for a PC but they decide not to review. 

Brilliant goalkeeping from Yoshikawa, who comes forward and prevents the lobbed pass from reaching the Indian forward. 

Early long ball towards the left corner from Harmanpreet. Sanjay fails to bring it under control despite having 2-3 attempts at it. 

Abhishek almost gets at the end of a square pass at the right hand post. First circle penetration for India. 

Japan with the pushback to begin the Pool A contest. Early foul from Rajinder on the left flank to prevent the Japanese wide man from racing forward. 

The two sides make their way out into a gloomy Gifu Green Stadium. A sparse crowd in the stands despite the host being in action. The umbrellas are still up for the drizzle. 

Koji Yamasaki, Shota Yamada, Yamato Kawahara, Seren Tanaka, Taiki Takade, Kosei Kawabe, Kazumasa Matsumoto, Manabu Yamashita, Raiki Fujishima, Kaito Tanaka, Takashi Yoshikawa

Jarmanpreet Singh, Abhishek, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Harmanpreet Singh (C), Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Suraj Karkera, Rajinder Singh

India is currently at the top of Pool A with nine points. A win against Japan will create a three-point lead at the top of the standings ahead of both Japan and South Korea. 

Since the two North-East Asian nations take each other on in their final group game, India will be assured of a top-two spot with a win today. 

Welcome to the live coverage of India’s fourth Pool A men’s hockey encounter against host Japan.

India has three wins in three so far in the competition and can seal in a place in the final four with a win today.