Highlights Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2017, India vs Japan, hockey scores and updates: India win 4-3

One can easily pick holes in the way India played today against Japan. But credit also to the Indian side for making a comeback and win the match which at one stage seemed certain of going Japan’s way. India have beaten Japan 4-3.

MANDEEP IS THE MAN OF THE MATCH. THREE GOALS. INDIA NOW HAVE SEVEN POINTS.

WE ARE DOWN TO THE LAST SECONDS. AND INDIA HAS WON 4-3. THEY ARE STILL ALIVE IN MAKING IT TO THE AZLAN FINAL.

INDIA LEAD 4-3. TWO MINUTES LEFT IN THE MATCH. CAN INDIA PUT IT ACROSS NOW? (01:42, 4TH Q)

THAT’S THE GOAL!!!!!….MANDEEP’S HAT-TRICK GIVES INDIA THE LEAD. THE POACHER HAS FINALLY COME OF AGE. (02:32, 4TH Q)

Just over five minutes left in the match. India desperately hunt for a match-winner. Sumit’s brilliant pass to Mandeep is not read properly. What a waste! (04:25, 4th Q)

India goes for a video referral. They want a PC. But the umpire gives a free hit to Japan. (06:16, 4th Q)

India have a 5th PC. And they get a 6th one after the ball has hit the Japanese defenders foot. But Harmanpreet’s flick goes over the post. It’s 3-3. (08:30, 4th Q)

Just under ten minutes left for India to find an equaliser? Can they? AND THEY HAVE GOT THE EQUALISER. MANDEEP GETS THE DEFLECTION OF A TALWINDER CROSS. (09:20, 4TH Q)

Great run by Manpreet, Sunil and then Mandeep’s reverse hit goes past the Japanese goalpost. (12:04, 4th Q)

And they can’t convert. Rupinder flick saved by the Jap GK but the rebound wasn’t banged in by Akashdeep. (13:58, 4th Q)

Rupinder Pal Singh has requested for a video referral. And India have their 4th PC. Can they equalise now? (14:21, 4th Q)

Teams are back for the 4th and last quarter. India has a huge task up ahead. First equalise and then find a winner. By the looks of it, Japan may hold onto their lead 3-2 or even increase it. India need to use their minds. (14:21, 4th Q)

WITH BARELY 20 SECONDS, JAPAN HAD THE LEAD AGAIN 3-2. SLOPPY, SLOPPY DEFENCE BY INDIA. GENKI MITANI GETS THE SPACE AND HE SLASHES THE BALL INTO THE ROOF OF THE NET. IT’S ALSO THE END OF THE 3RD QUARTER.

Are we seeing an upset here today? BUT NO. HARMANPREET CROSS INTO THE CIRCLE AND MANDEEP DEFLECTION BEATS THE JAP GOALKEEPER. IT’S 2-2. MATCH ON. (00:23, 3RD Q)

AND JAPAN SCORE. THEY HAVE THE LEAD 2-1. YOSHIHARA’S HIT HAD MORE HOPE WRITTEN ON IT. CHIKTE CAME OFF LATE. BUT JAPAN LEAD 2-1 (01:37, 3RD Q)

Extremely good man-to-man marking by Japan. Each and every Indian forward has a Japanese on them. There is no space to work the ball around. India needs to create PC’s in this situation. As time passes by Japan will believe they can pull of a big upset. India need to score here. It’s 1-1 at the moment. (03:11, 3rd Q)

India needs to step up their game, if they harbour any hopes of progressing to the finals for the second consecutive year. Japan have grown strength to strength and have shown in the last 30 minutes that they are no pushovers: Arasu (06:22, 3rd Q)

Talwinder has the ball in the Jap striking circle. But after being tackled, he brings down the Japanese defender. Green card for the Indian. India down to ten men. (07:29, 3rd Q)

Ten-men Japanese defence is stopping the Indian forwards, rather the whole team. But the Japanese counter attacks have sharpness. India need to open up play in the middle otherwise they are playing into the Japs hands. Japan’s man-to-man marking is wonderful. (08:59, 3rd Q)

The 3rd quarter begins. India has work to do. And they get into attacking mode immediately. Rupinder Pal Singh with Akashdeep and then Sunil has the ball. But makes a hash of it. (13:49; 3rd Q)

India needs a better display in the 3rd and 4th quarter. Othwerwise, Japan may just spring a surprise.

At the break, one can safely say that Japan is the one playing better hockey. India is muddled in the midfield. Their defence is jittery and the forwards suddenly have run out of ideas. Contrast this with the display against Japan in the Asian Champions Trophy where India won 10-2. Japan have improved vastly.

AND THAT’S THE END OF THE 2ND QUARTER. SCORES ARE 1-1. JAPAN HAVE BEEN THE BETTER TEAM.

Rupinder Pal Singh’s flick is fast but wild. Japan steady their nerves. But it’s India who is jittery. Koji Yamasaki almost scored before India had their 3rd PC. A cross and Koji to the relief of the Indian defence couldn’t reach the ball in time. (02:18, 2nd Q)

India have their 3rd PC of the match. Can they score and take the lead? (03:54, 2nd PC)

India have not been able to translate their superior ball possession into results inside the Japanese D. Japan are also looking dangerous on the breakaway. (Arasu)

Japan playing with ten men in their own striking circle. India, unable to penetrate through. On the attack, Japan, stretch the attack and play the balls from the flanks, creating space for themselves. (09:26, 2nd Q)

Japan’s man-to-man marking keeps the Indian forwards at bay. They need a dummy forward to wean the Japanese defenders away and then have a lone striker upfront to score. (11:02, 2nd Q)

Japan are stretching the flanks keeping the Indian defence busy. Surprising why India are not increasing the pace against the Japanese. Skills and pace could be a killer against Japan. (12:41, 2nd Q)

Great move to start the 2nd quarter – Sunil to Manpreet and then Mandeep sees the deflection go over the post. (14:19, 2nd Q)

AT THE END OF THE 1ST QUARTER, IT’S 1-1.

Counter-attack and India have their 2nd PC. Harmanpreet takes the flick and the ball going out strikes Seren Tanaka. Affan gets the rebound but his shot is wayward.

Suddenly, the game has opened up. Japan encouraged by the goal is attacking and entered the Indian striking circle. Surender saves the situation. India on the back foot.

SURPRISE! JAPAN HAS EQUALISED WITH A FIELD GOAL. OHASHI MOVE AND MURATA DEFLECTS IN. INDIAN DEFENCE STANDING STILL. IT’S 1-1. (01:48, 1ST Q)

Lovely move and turn by Affan Yousuf. But the Japan goalkeeper Suguru Shimmoto makes s smart save. (02:47, 1st Q)

Great save by Rupinder Pal Singh off a Japan counter attack. India lead 1-0 (03:47, 1st Q)

But Japan make a hash of the PC. And also get a green card. Japan down to ten men. Can India take advantage of the numbers? (05:12, 1st Q)

Bad defending by India and they have given away a PC to Japan. (06:02, 1st Q)

SUPERB FLICK BY RUPINDER. RISING AND BEATING THE JAPAN GK. INDIA LEAD 1-0. (06:39, 1ST Q)

India have their first PC of the quarter. AND RUPINDER PAL SINGH SCORES. INDIA LEAD 1-0. (07:04, 1ST Q)

Finally, the first move by Japan into the Indian half and they almost score. Kazuma Murata takes a swipe by Chikte comes ahead and pads it away.

Five minutes over and not a single Japanese move in the Indian half. Neither has India done anything with all that possession. (08:29, 1st Q)

Ball yet to enter the Indian half. India constantly attacking, trying to pierce through the flanks and middle. (11:01, 1st Q)

Great move by Rupinder Pal Singh turning almost 360 degrees with the ball but the shot is wide. Rupinder had the space and should have scored from that angle. (12:26, 1st Q)

There they go, India in the attack, rotating the ball around the turf. But the Japanese hold them off. India coming back again. (13:47, 1st Q)

And there are the teams all ready. The National Anthems are over. Play to start in a few minutes.

India is on four points with Japan on one. India needs to win today to strengthen their chances of playing the Azlan Shah final.

It is learnt that Sreejesh has picked up an MCL injury. It is a tear or sprain of the medial collateral ligament. The MCL injury keeps the knee from bending inward: Arasu

The last time India played Japan was in the 2016 Asian Champions Trophy in Kuantan, Malaysia. India had then beaten Japan 10-2 with six goals from Rupinder Pal Singh. Not likely to happen today afternoon.

Last time, India played Japan, they won 10-2. Wont be easy today afternoon.#azlanshahcup.#IndvsJap pic.twitter.com/a3slUAztTd

— Sundeep Misra (@MisraSundeep) May 3, 2017

India ready to take on Japan who have impressed at the Azlan Shah.#azlanshahcup.#IndvsJap pic.twitter.com/pfdrx02IEi

— Sundeep Misra (@MisraSundeep) May 3, 2017

The other news from the ground is that team captain P Sreejesh will not play in the tournament. He has been advised rest after the knee injury against Australia. Team sources say that he will be out for a couple of months and may come back for the World Hockey League semi-finals in London. That tournament is from June 15-25th.

Welcome to the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.

India is taking on Japan in today’s first match. Yesterday, the Indian team lost 1-3 to reigning champions Australia.

Teams have just finished their warm ups. India already back in their dressing room. Japan still on the pitch smacking in a few penalty corners.

The teams are:

India:

Harmanpreet Singh, Akash Chikte (GK), Rupinder Pal Singh, Gurinder Singh, Manpreet Singh (Cap), Mandeep Singh, Harjeet Singh, Pardeep Mor, SV Sunil, Akashdeep Singh, Chinglensana.

Japan:

Shota Yamada, Genki Mitani, Seren Tanaka, Suguru Hoshu, Kenta Tanaka, Heita Yoshihara, Manabu Yamashita (Cap), Kota Watanabe, Masaki Ohashi, Hirotaka Zendana, Suguru Shimmoto (GK)

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. India take on Japan in today’s match in Malaysia. Stay tuned for regular scores and updates.