India 4-3 Japan, Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2017, As It Happened!

India 4-3 Japan, FULL TIME

Updated: 03 May 2017 15:28 IST - Published: 03 May 2017 14:35 IST

Thank you for joining us. It is a rest day tomorrow.

India next play on the 5th (Friday) againt hosts Malaysia in the final game of the league at 6:05 pm. Mark your calendars.

Do make sure you join us for that. Till then. Goodbye and have a good day.

That makes it 7 points from 4 games for India. This draws them level on points with Great Britain. But the Brits will remain a spot ahead of India in second thanks to a better goal difference.

The Brits will play against table-toppers Australia in a game later today - a game which could reshape the table by the end of the day.

But what a game from Japan who are rebuilding with a very young team. And they have really shown potential throughout the tournament. They are relentless and have a real fight about them.

The future looks good for the team from the land of the rising sun.

AND THAT'S IT!!!

India wins it courtesy of a hat-trick from Mandeep Singh. But what a game of Hockey. That was heart in mouth stuff. But India pull off a great win.

60' - Final seconds of the game. India trying to keep possession and run the clock down.

59' - Harmanpreet again pickpocketed. Japan now looking desperately for an equaliser.

58' - MAN-DEEEEEP IS THE MAN FROM INDIA!!!!!

He is on fire. A hattrick from the forward.

Slapped in by Rupinder and that is deflected in Mandeep Singh for his third goal of the match and fifth of the tournament.

57' - Akashdeep looks for option near the half way line. And he has to go back. Time running out.

56' - Sloppy from Harmanpreet. Loses the ball way too easily.

56' - Sumeet tries to feed it to Mandeep. But he can't get the ball under control.

55' - India with a two-minute advantage as Kameyama is shown the green card.

54' - End to end stuff here. But finally India with a good break.

Talwinder with a swivel and shot but blocked. Comes out to Sumeet. He tries to find the foot. But can't do that.

Referral from India but that goes to waste.

52' - Harmanpreet again. But wide this time.

5 PCs for India and only one goal with two great drag-flickers. Will we be made to rue this?

51' - Harmanpreet with the effort but blocked. But that results it another PC. Off the foot.

51' - PC for India!!

Sardar with a great pass into Chinglensana. He plays into Mandeep and the man with the golden touch gets India another penalty corner.

51' - GOAAAAALL!! INDIA WITH THE EQUALISER!!

Great work from Talwinder. He fires it across from the right and Mandeep Singh with his second goal.

50' - Japan are defedning astutely. A long corner for India.

48' - India on the counter. SV Sunil into Mandeep.

GREAT CHANCE. But Mandeep slips at the vital moment. His legs overextends and his reverse is over the top. That was another great opportunity to draw level.

Japan just seem to have more energy and more legs in this game. The game against Australia can be taking it's toll.

46' - Rupinder Pal Singh with the shot again. And a great save by Shimamoto.

The rebound falls to Akashdeep but he pushes that wide.

India is 1 out of 3 in PC this game.

46' - India looking for a referral. SV Sunil feels there is a foot.

And that is upheld. INDIA HAVE A PENALTY CORNER!!

45' - GOAL!!

What do we have here! Japan take the lead back. The Samurai Blues attack leads to an error from Sardar Singh who can't clear his lines. Pushes the ball into the path of Mitani. And he slaps that into the roof of the net.

And India has to do it all over again.

45' - WHAT A GOAL!!!!Mandeep with an extraordinary goal. Take a bow, Mandeep Singh. Harmanpreet just thrashed that one in down the middle. And with his back to the goal, he deflects it in.