AND INDIA MARKED THE VICTORY AGAINST JAPAN 5-3!
59′ Done and Dusted! The game is still in favour of India. Although Kenta Tanaka got the ball back from an Indian player, entered the circle, trickled past Sreejesh and set up Kazuma Murata, who goaled with ease in the end.
50′ PR Sreejesh makes a double shot to deny Japan a goal.
47′ Goalkeeper Takashi Yoshikawa was injured after being struck on his right shoulder by Indian midfielder Hardik Singh. However, he can continue to play.
India still possesses 58% of the game. But Japan isn’t in the mood to let it go easily. The opposition is buckled up to equalise the match. India has to be more alert in the end 15 minutes to capture three points.
THIRD-QUARTER OVER, FOURTH IS AFOOT!
45′ Nilakanta, India’s best player so far, goaled for India. The umpire, however, doesn’t award it due to dangerous play in the build-up. India stays ahead by 3-2.
33′ Tie: India and Japan 2-2, initially the umpire declared it as a penalty stroke as India’s Surender Kumar blocked a shot from Kota Watanabe with his body. But later it was clear that he had blown his whistle only after the ball hit the back of the net.
THE THIRD QUARTER STARTS!
The opening half comes to an end. India is leading 2-0. Thanks to Harmanpreet Singh and Gurjant Singh for scoring two goals for India. Kenta Tanaka pulled a goal back for Japan to convert the game into an exciting event. Thirty minutes more.
SECOND HALF IS OVER NOW! AH, IT WAS BLOOD RUSHING.
30′ Japan’s Shota Yamada was injured after a collision with an opponent player. Soon medical staff rushed to the ground and got him away in a stretcher. Tensed air all over the podium.
17′ Another goal! India is ahead 2-0. The combined effort by Simranjeet Singh and Gurjant Singh made India lead.
Second-quarter began with India leading against Japan 1-0. Credit to Harmanpreet Singh for the goal for India.
SECOND-QUARTER BEGINS!
15′ The first quarter ends. Team Japan seems to be in a very tough mode. This could become a high scoring match for India.
7′ India could have been leading the game but Vivek’s shot at close range missed the target by a whisker. Japan is little relaxed now. The team is at the bottom and playing for the consolation win today.
At 2′ India began the passing game. Harmanpreet threw a dangerous ball in the shooting circle at 5′ but a player from Japan flicked it away.
Positioned at second with nine points, just behind Australia with 12 points, team India is expecting a confidence-boosting victory ahead quarters.
And the match began with both the teams being introduced to each other, followed by playing the national anthems and toss in the middle.
