India vs Japan Hockey Asia Cup 2022 Super 4s Highlights: India beat Japan 2-1

Follow Live score and updates from India vs Japan Asia Cup 2022 Hockey Super 4 clash on our LIVE blog here

Source: Twitter

Having risen like a proverbial phoenix from the ashes, a rejuvenated Indian men's hockey team would like to put up a much-improved performance when it takes on Japan in its first 'Super 4' match of the Asia Cup here on Saturday. Despite facing a below-par Indonesia in its final group league game, the young side coached by Sardar Singh must be lauded for being able to score a whopping 16 goals in just an hour. It was one more than what India required to put a final nail in Pakistan's coffin as far as harbouring World Cup qualification hopes were concerned. Both India and Pakistan finished on four points each in Pool A behind Japan but the defending champions qualified for the next round due to a better goal difference (+1).

28 May 2022

18:30 IST

India beat Japan 2-1

Brilliant work by the Men in blue to get the victory over an experienced Japan side. This is Japan's first loss of the tournament, very impressive work from an young Indian team.

IND 2-1 JPN

 Manjeet Singh and Pawan Rajbhar were the goalscorers for India

18:25 IST

India DOMINANT in the 4TH

India are displaying a dominant performance in the 4th quarter as they give Japan no easy pickings with a solid defence line and innovative attacking line.

IND 2-1 JPN

18:15 IST

The decisive 4th quarter

Selvam needed a medical help after getting hit, India asked for PC but did not get it. 

Japan are attacking as they are a goal behind. 

Maninder too hit right on the face, gum shield saved him there. India cannot afford to lose a player. 

India 2: 1 Japan 

18:10 IST

India have not been able to get many PCs and convert them but they have played brilliant on that left flank

2nd goal for India coming once again due to slick stickwork down the left flank and baseline, this time by Uttam Singh. Fine finish by Pawan Rajbhar __ India 2-1 Japan. Q3

— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) May 28, 2022

India 2: 1 Japan

18:04 IST

PC for Japan

But they squander the chance with a back door pass. No harm done to the scoreline. Remains 2-1, in favour of India. Fifth PC for Japan and they have converted only one, and that too via a rebound. 

17:57 IST

GOALL!

India take lead again and it is Pawan Rajbhar who finds himself right in the front of the goal, gets a brilliant pass from Uttam Singh, who singlehandedly dodged the Japanese defensse from the left flank. Rajbhar sticks it into the nets to give India lead. 

India 2: 1 Japan

17:49 IST

That indeed was some goal from the young man!

Brilliant goal by Manjeet to give India the lead in the first quarter. India 1-0 Japan. #AsiaCupHockey2022 Super 4s

— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) May 28, 2022

17:44 IST

HT - India 1: 1 Japan

India have kept almost fifty percent of ball possession and barring some errors, have played good hockey. Exciting third and 4th quarter coming up. 

17:41 IST

Green card for Maninder

He went for the shot despite a whistle by the umpire for an error and he is instantly shown the green card and he is off for 2 minutes, India down to 10 man in dying moments of Q2. 

India 1: 1 Japan

17:35 IST

India 1: 1 Japan

A neck and neck battle. India had a chance with a good pass from Sunil to Selvam but he hit it straight to the goalie.  

17:33 IST

Third PC for Japan!

But they fail to convert it, Suraj with a brilliant save. And the Indian defence does the rest. The Indian players go on a counter-attack but a poor pass from SV Sunil means India lose the ball inside the circle. 

India 1: 1 Japan

17:25 IST

GOALLLL!

PC for Japan and they convert it, score the equaliser. Good save by Indian goalie Suraj but Japan score on the rebound. 

India 1: 1 Japan

17:18 IST

India 1:0 Japan

Maninder earns a penalty corner for India but to no avail. One PC each to Japan and India in Q1. 

17:11 IST

GOAL!

Japan attacked from the word go but India counter-attack with Manjeet making a fine run, an individual brilliance, pushing forward from left flank, outwitting the goalkeeper and sending the ball into the nets. 

IND 1: 0 JPN

17:08 IST

Penalty corner for Japan in the first minute of the match!

But the PC goes wide. And India take a sigh of relief. That would have been a disastrous start for Men in Blue. 

17:05 IST

Indian lineup!

Take a look at the lineup for today's encounter between India and Japan, which is held in Jakarta, Indonesia, at the Hero Asia Cup 2022.#IndiaKaGame #HockeyIndia #HeroAsiaCup #INDvsJPN @CMO_Odisha @sports_odisha @Media_SAI @IndiaSports pic.twitter.com/6R7reHm1wI

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) May 28, 2022

16:47 IST

The teams are out for national anthems of India and Japan. First up, India's. 

Match to begin anytime now..

16:44 IST

How does Super 4 work?

The four teams in Super of Asia Cup 2022 are: India, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. Each team will play each other once and then the best two teams will go on to play the final.

16:43 IST

Hello and welcome to live coverage of Asia Cup 2022 Hockey Super 4 contest between India and Japan on our LIVE blog here.

Match starts at 5 pm IST. 

Stay tuned for more updates!