Live Four Nations Hockey: India vs Japan, Live Match Updates

That's all for today. Thanks for following the live updates. We will be back tomorrow with the live updates of the final. Stay tuned to Sportskeeda for other sports news from around the world. Here's Argha Bhattacharya signing off. Goodbye!

India, who are already in the final will face the winner of Belgium versus New Zealand game in the summit clash on Sunday.

There goes the hooter and with that India clinch victory against the Japanese.

59' This time Rupinder's shot is off target.

59' India get a PC which is blocked by a Japanese foot so India get another penalty corner.

58' GOAAAL! Ramandeep Singh makes it 4-2. The Japanese defence is broken again inside one minute. Ramandeep enters the box and takes a rasping shot on goal which evades the Japanese goalkeeper to enter the back of the net. India 4-2 Japan.

57' GOAAAAL! India score as Harjeet Singh turns on the edge of the box and takes a powerful shot on goal to give India the lead. India 3-2 Japan.

SAVED! The Indian goalkeeper dives to his right to save the effort.

55' Japan get a penalty corner.

53' The Japanese take a shot on goal which is saved by the Indian goalkeeper.

50' Indians dribble their way inside the Japanese box but fail to register a shot on goal.

48' CHANCE MISSED! The penalty stroke is well wide. That's a huge escape for India.

48' Japan awarded a penalty stroke after they take two shots on the Indian goal. The first shot is saved by the goalkeeper while the second results in a penalty stroke.

The last quarter is underway.

That's the end of the third quarter.

41' Japan miss a great opportunity as the Indian goalkeeper averts danger from a one on one situation. The custodian gets a part of his body in the line of the reverse flick to deflect the direction of the ball.

37' GOAAAL! Japan equalise again from the PC. They sell a little dummy and then the shot is taken which rockets into the top corner. India 2-2 Japan.

37' Japan awarded a penalty corner.

35' India turn defence into attack and force a save by the Japanese goalkeeper.

34' The runners clear out the ball.

34' Japan get a PC.

34' Japan try to penetrate inside the India circle but the Indian defenders avert danger.

32' Japanese keeper makes a great save.

32' India get a penalty corner.

The third quarter is underway.

That's the end of the second quarter.

GOAAAL! Varun Kumar converts the penalty corner. This time the Indians execute the PC in the conventional way as Kumar takes a powerful shot at goal which takes a slice of the goalkeeper's pad and crosses the goal line. India 2-1 Japan.

29' India get another PC.

29' Indians try to fool the Japanese with a dummy move but the execution isn't right as the penalty corner chance is wasted.

29' India awarded a penalty corner.

27' Japan take the ball in the D as one of their players spins around to skip challenges but he slips and loses control of the ball.

26' A reverse flick is saved by the Japanese goalkeeper.

25' Japan make their way in the Indian circle but the ball gets tangled up in the feet of their player who fails to bring it under control. India clear their lines.

23' Lalit Upadhyay takes a thunderous shot at the Japan goal but the direction of the ball is just off te mark.

20' India make their way inside the circle again but Japan clear their lines.

19' India turn the defence into attack but Japanese protect their territory quite well this time to avert danger.

The second quarter is underway.

13' GOAAAL! Japan restore parity. Japan take the ball into the D from the byline, two Indian players are beaten in this process and the ball is sent over the shoulders of the goalkeeper into the back of the net. Rupinder Pal Singh had a chance to make a goalline clearance but he fails to keep the ball out. India 1-1 Japan.

11' GOAAAL! India take the lead. Vivek Prasad opens the account for India. The Indians attack in numbers, taking one or two touches of the ball, Prasad then enters the D and dives forward to put his stick to the ball to give India the lead. India 1-0 Japan.

10' Japan are defending in numbers and keeping the Indians at bay for the time being.

6' India keep attacking the Japan box but a goal scoring pass is still missing.

5' India manage to penetrate inside the circle but fail to register a shot on goal.

1' India launch the first attack of the match and the Japan goalkeeper makes a great save.

Time for the national anthems.

India will face Japan in their third match of the second leg of Four Nations Invitational hockey tournament in Hamilton, New Zealand.

Having secured back to back victories against New Zealand and Belgium, the 'Men in Blue' will start the match as favourities.

It must be noted that India have already qualified for the final of the second leg of the tournament.

On the other hand, Japan will only play for pride as a win over here won't be enough for them to make the final.

India beat the Black Sticks 3-2 in the first match of this leg and then edged out Belgium 5-4 in a thrilling encounter in the second league game to book their place in the summit clash.

Incidentally, India had also made it to the final of the first leg only to be beaten by Belgium in the summit clash.