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Good afternoon, hockey fans! It’s a hot day out in Rajgir as the Men in Blue will take the field against Japan. It’s world No. 7 versus world No. 18 out today, with India very much the favourites to win on home soil. However, hockey is as unpredictable as it can be, so stay tuned for pre-match updates and lineups as they are released.
You can watch the Hockey Asia Cup 2025 match live on the Sony LIV app and website. TV broadcasts will take place on the Sony TEN 2 and Sony TEN 2 HD channels.
You can also follow the India vs Japan live score on Outlook India for free.
India: 🔴L 🔴L 🔴L 🟢W 🟢W
Japan: 🟢W 🟢W 🔴L 🔴L 🔴L
Goalkeepers: Krishan Pathak, Suraj Karkera
Defenders: Sumit, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Harmanpreet Singh (c), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh
Midfielders: Rajinder Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad
Forwards: Mandeep Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh
A few minutes until the match between India and Japan begins. Let's see the last five encounters between these two sides:
India 5-1 Japan (2024)
India 5-1 Japan (2023)
India 5-0 Japan (2023)
India 1-1 Japan (2023)
Starting XI: Koji Yamasaki, Shota Yamada, Yuto Higuchi, Yamato Kawahara, Seren Tanaka, Kazumasa Matsumoto, Manabu Yamashita, Raiki Fujishima, Ken Nagayoshi, Kosei Kawabe, Takashi Yoshikawa
Bench: Naru Kimura, Kaito Tanaka, Yusuke Kawamura, Kisho Kuroda, Keita Watanabe, Ryosuke Shinohara, Hyota Yamada
Starting XI: Abhishek, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Mandeep Singh, Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Harmanpreet Singh, Sumit, Amit Rohidas, Sukhjeet Singh, Sanjay, Rajinder Singh
Bench: Dilpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Jugraj Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Suraj Karkera, Shilanand Lakra
Already delayed by 10 minutes, we still don't have pushback in the match. Right now, the dignitaries are out on the pitch, congratulating the players. Five or so more minutes until the match can begin, I suppose.
25 minutes after the scheduled time, and we finally have pushback. The hosts get the ball rolling, and India are immediately on the attack.
Yamato tried to stop Harmanpreet, and sees a green card. India are pushing hard against their 10-man opponents, and Manpreet has a shot from just inside the circle that went slightly wide.
What a turn from Mandeep! Sukhjeet takes the ball and plays it to Mandeep in the box, and the forward turns and shoots, hitting the post and finding the back of the net. India lead!
A series of PCs for India. Harmanpreet failed to get the right contact the first couple of times, but the captain then works his magic after the injection, hitting it sweetly as the ball flies past everyone and ends up in the back of the net, probably getting a slight deflection from the goalkeeper.
Japan are trying to control the possession in the last few minutes, with most of the match being played in midfield. However, every time the visitors lose posession, India are looking extremely dangerous going forward.
Japan have a couple of PCs. In the second attempt, the Japanese player fails to stop the injection, but the ball is recycled in the D, and there's a tomahawk shot at goal brings out a good save from Pathak.
The referee blows his whistle, and the first quarter is over. India hold on to their two-goal lead.
Second quarter is underway now. India are leading 2-0. Men In Blue will look to build on this lead and put Japan under further pressure.
Japan are being put under tremendous pressure here but in between they did make an attack and grab a few PCs. However, they have not been able to convert any of them. India fully in control of the proceedings. The defence working and the attackers have already pushed them 2-0 ahead.
Half-time!
India retain their 2-0 lead thanks to a double blow early in this match. The second quarter does not see any goals even as both teams found some opportunities.
Third quarter is now underway and are just not letting the intensity drop in this game. They already lead 2-0 but they are continuing to be on the top of their game. No goal for a long time now and India would want to triple their lead.
38' Japan strike and they get their first goal of the evening. Kosei Kawabe finds the ball inside the D and fires a shot on the turn. Indian defence is not at its best and the ball goes into the goalpost. Japan cut India's lead. It is 2-1 in India's favour right now.
Harmanpreet Singh finds the goal. He gets his second of the evening and India are yet again leading by two goals. It is 3-1 in Rajgir and that would also end the third quarter.
The final quarter is underway now. India 3, Japan 1. Do we have a twist remaining in the game? Let us follow...
Japan find the breakthrough! They have upped the ante in this quarter andd it finally shows on the scoreboard. India concede late but they still have a goal in hand. Kosei Kawabe scores his second of the match and now it is 3-2 India.
Full-time!
India win 3-2. A late charge from Japan but India hold on to their lead. India now have two wins in their two outings.
India now have back-to-back wins in the Asia Cup. Both of them came by only a margin of one goal but they are wins nonetheless.
We will be closing our coverage for this game. Follow other live blogs with OutlookIndia right here.
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