That's it from us here - we have witnessed two fantastic semifinals this evening, and it's India vs Pakistan coming up at 2240 IST on Sunday. Do join us then - this is Subhashish signing off. Good night and stay tuned to Sportskeeda for the latest news and updates
IT WASN'T A CAKEWALK THIS TIME, BUT HARENDRA'S BOYS HOLD THEIR NERVES TO TAKE INDIA OVER THE LINE AGAINST A VASTLY-IMPROVED JAPANESE SIDE. SIXTY-SEVEN PERCENT OF THE POSSESSION FOR THE INDIANS WHO ALSO MANAGED 27 CIRCLE ENTRIES WHILE AIKMAN'S SIDE MANAGED JUST 5 - BUT SCORED TWICE!!!
THE JAPANESE DENIED SPACE TO THE INDIAN STRIKERS IN THE ATTACKING CIRCLE WITH A DISCIPLINED PERFOMANCE BUT, IN THE END, THE SHEER QUALITY OF THIS INDIAN SIDE PROVING TO BE TOO FAR MUCH FOR AIKMAN'S YOUNG TEAM TO COUNTER
THE INDIANS BEING MADE TO SWEAT IT OUT HERE AT MUSCAT - THANKFULLY THOUGH THEY HAVE THE LEAD AFTER SOME GREAT WORK BY VARUN AND CHINGLENSANA - DOES AIKMAN HAVE A LAST TRICK UP HIS SLEEVE???
32' Japan have a long corner early in the second half - they steal the ball and manage a quick turnover too - Krishan Pathak in goal gets a scare just after coming on
SEVENTY-FOUR PERCENT OF THE POSSESSION FOR INDIA -"WE HAVE THE FIGHTING SPIRIT" SAYS AIKMAN - HARENDRA LOOKS RELAXED - "WANT THE PLAYERS TO HOLD THE BALL MORE" SAYS HARENDRA
THINGS HAVE NOT GONE STRICTLY AS PER THE SCRIPT HERE - THE INDIANS DID A LOT OF THE ATTACKING BUT WERE DENIED SPACE IN THE STRIKING CIRCLE - GURJANT GAVE INDIA THE LEAD IN THE 19th MINUTE - SHOTA YAMADA TOOK A GREAT DECEPTIVE DRAG FLICK TO FIND WAKURI UNMARKED NEAR THE POST WHO MADE NO MISTAKE AFTER A GREAT DIVING EFFORT TO RESTORE PARITY JUST 3 MINUTES LATER