India vs Japan Olympics 2021 hockey men's Pool A LIVE score, commentary & updates; India leads 4-2

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The men's quarterfinals are scheduled to be played on Sunday 1 August. So the Indian team can enjoy a day off tomorrow.

A second-place finish has ensured that India will not face Belgium in the quarterfinals of Tokyo Olympics 2021 men's Hockey competition. The Indian team will face the third-placed team from Group B. The Netherlands, Great Britain and Germany are the three contenders for that spot. It will be exciting to see which nation locks horns with India in the last eight.

India enter the quarterfinals of Tokyo Olympics 2021 Men's Hockey competition with a hat-trick of victories. They beat New Zealand in their first game but suffered a crushing 1-7 loss at the hands of Australia in the next match. India showed character and bounced back with victories over Spain and reigning Olympic champions Argentina.

Having secured a place in the last eight, India rested a few senior players for the final group stage match against Japan. Although the home side troubled India a bit, goals from Gurjant Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Samsher Singh and Nilakanta helped India record a 5-3 victory. Team India ended their group stage with 12 points from five matches. They are only behind Australia on the standings.

Meanwhile, the Japanese team ended their campaign on a disappointing note. The home side scored three goals against India, but their defense ended up conceding two more goals than their forwards scored. Courtesy of this defeat, Japan ended the group stage with a solitary point to their name.

#TeamIndia finish the pool stage with another thumping win over Japan.

India, how's the josh? 🇮🇳#JPNvIND #HaiTayyar #IndiaKaGame #Tokyo2020 #TokyoTogether #StrongerTogether #HockeyInvites #WeAreTeamIndia #Hockey pic.twitter.com/WWzAYgzwNY
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) July 30, 2021

We'll have a quick summary up for you soon. Until then, let us know about your impressions of the match in the Live Chat!

Final scoresheet for India vs Japan Pool A round-robin match:

What an effort from India after a bit of a shaky start to walk away with a rather comfortable scoreline.

IT'S ALL OVER FOR JAPAN! India make sure the home team ends Tokyo Olympics without a single victory. Despite scoring three goals, Japan lost their last league match to India.

India take the match 5-3!

FINAL HOOTER!

60' - Japan fail to make anything of the final press.

One minute remaining! India looking good to the finish here.

It's a Goal for Japan! India lead 5-3

India's appeal has been rejected by the TV Umpire. It's the third goal of the day for Japan!

59' - Kenta Tanka assists Kazuma Murata for a quick goal but India ask to go upstairs!

And they do! GOALLLLLL FOR JAPAN! Score, INDIA 5 -3 JAPAN,

Last 2 minutes of the match. Japan trailing by three goals. A win seems unlikely for the Japanese, but can they end their campaign with a goal?

57' - Sreejesh saves a shot at goal from Tanaka as Japan desperately look for something!

Second goal from penalty corner for India.#TeamIndia #IndiaKaGame #IND #Hockey #Tokyo2020 #PhirDilDoHockeyKo
— Phir Dil Do Hockey Ko (@PhirDilDoHockey) July 30, 2021

India now has a stranglehold over the match. They are playing with more confidence now as the defense steal away yet another ball from the Japanese forwards.

5th goal of the day for India. That goal has sealed the deal for the Indian team! Penalty corner conversion number two for India!

India lead 5-2!

Harmanpreet gives the ball to Gurjant, who finds the perfect deflection to beat the Japanese GK.

GOALL!!!!

Harmanpreet at the first castle! Can he score?

56' - Sumit and Gurjant combine well to give India yet another Penalty Corner.

Time is running out for Japan! Just five minutes remain in this match. The home side is still trailing by two goals.

Down to the last 5 minutes!

55' - Indian defenders do well to come away with the ball, press forwards with Gurjant and Virendra.

Sreejesh makes a good save, but India fails to clear their lines. Long corner for Japan.

While India have conceded two goals to Japan today, they did not concede a single penalty corner in the first 54 minutes!

54' - Penalty corner for Japan! Intense few minutes at hand here.

54' - Japan with a quick counter, enter the Indian half with numbers.

India fail to convert the penalty corner. Only one penalty corner has been converted into a goal by the Indian dragflickers today.

54' - Harmanpreet takes the shot, but brave defending from the Japanese rushers.

Penalty Corner awarded to India!

India have scored a goal in each of the four quarters of this match. It seems highly unlikely that the Japanese can deny India a win in this game now.

54' - Free hit for India just outside the circle.

53' - India clear their lines and look to come forward again.

An aerial pass from Harmanpreet found the Indian forward in the circle and Nilakantha and Surinder combine for a brilliant goal!

GOAALLLLLL!!! India double their lead!

51' - GOAL!

51' - India at the 23 meter line.

Excellent stuff from PR Sreejesh! Two attempts from Japan in a matter of seconds, both have been saved by the Indian goalkeeper!

49' - India is looking slow to react to the Japanese counters. Sreejesh had to come up with a big save as Japan mount pressure.

48' - Japan nearly score as the Indian defense caught off-guard again!

No goals in the 4th quarter so far, will be a surprise if this quarter ends with no goals from either team.

47' - India continue to press forward, Hardik and Gurjant with a good spell just outside the circle, but Japan come away with the ball.

46' - Japanese goalkeeper is down, trying to defend a shot at goal from Dilpreet.

India vs Japan Olympics 2021 hockey men's Pool A LIVE score, commentary & updates; India leads 4-2

India vs Japan hockey LIVE scores, updates & commentary of hockey men's match at Olympics 2021