India vs Japan Highlights Asia Cup 2022: Manjeet, Pawan score as India beat Japan 2-1 in Super 4s match

It's raining PCs for Japan in this quarter!

Update: Another save from Karkera, and the second attempt from Japan forward hits the cross bar.

India 1-1 Japan

But Karkera makes another big save. No goal on the rebound for Japan this time, and India did make a great attempt at counter-attack through Birendra Lakra, but Japan defend successfully.

Japan win the first penalty corner in the second quarter as well. Relentless attack from the Japs finally pays off

GOAL! Japan score! It was a brilliant save by Karkera but Takuma Niwa scores through rebound

Players out on the field for the start of the second quarter.

Manjeet Singh's brilliant solo goal assures India a 1-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

But to no avail. Japan counter-attacked straightaway after the failed penalty corner but fail to equalise, as the pass from the Japanese forward inside the circle goes astray.

India 1-0 Japan

Maninder Singh wins India a first penalty corner of the match! He cleverly hits the ball to the foot of the Japanese defender

Update: Missed! Nilam Sanjeep fails to slot it in as his shot hits his own teammate, SV Sunil.

Japan pressed the Indian defence immediately after Manjeet's incredible goal but the Indian defenders see off the attack. More urgency from Japan now

India 1-0 Japan

WHAT A GOAL! That has come out of nowhere! Manjeet with a brilliant solo goal! Manjeet takes a brilliant run from the left flank and keeps the ball inside the line, beating two Japs on the way before slotting the ball left of the goalkeeper to give India a lead.

Tricky phase for India early on but the defenders avert the danger successfully. Going to be a long game for India defenders by the looks of it

India begin the attack from right to left but it's Japan who have won an early penalty corner in the game.

Update: Missed! Long corner for Japan

We are done with the national anthems and the action is set to begin at the GBK Stadium in Jakarta.

The players are out on the turf. We begin with the national anthems first - India, followed by Japan.

Malaysia has drawn with South Korea 2-2 in the first game of the Super 4s, which means a win will take either of Japan or India to the top of the table for now.

As expected, the GBK Stadium in Jakarta sees a sea of Indian flags. Massive support for the Indian team in their first game of the Super 4s!

It has been a long-standing issue for India. In the ongoing tournament, however, India have still been above-par when comparing their own performances from the past. In 22 penalty corners, India have converted 9. Against Japan, however, the Men in Blue cannot afford to throw away chances.

Birendra Lakra will be key as India will be aiming for a high quality defensive performance against a dangerous Japan side. Among forwards, Dipan Tirkey, who is coming fresh from his brilliant outing against Indonesia, will be aiming to continue on the momentum.

There were as many as 10 players in line for a senior debut before India's first game of the tournament against Pakistan. India are testing their bench strength in the tournament, and consistent performances in Asia Cup can open the doors for many of these youngsters for participation in the Commonwealth Games, that take place in Birmingham later this year.

Japan are currently the reigning Asian Games champions, but they have never won the Asia Cup. India, meanwhile, are the defending champions of the tournament and have won it on three occasions so far.

Birendra Lakra (C), Suraj Karkera (GK), Karthi Selvam, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, SV Sunil, Raj Kumar Pal, Sheshe Gowda, Maninder Singh, Vishnukant Singh, Manjeet, Abhishek Lakra

India 1-1 Pakistan

India 2-5 Japan

India 16-0 Indonesia

Dipsan Tirkey is currently India's leading goalscorer in the Asia Cup, with five goals to his name so far. Incidentally, all of his goals came in the game against Indonesia!

Japan were a far more dominant side in their previous encounter in the Asia Cup 2022, with India conceding a 2-5 defeat in the game. India's first goal came in the 45th minute of the match through Pawan, but Japan doubled their lead merely four minutes later to deny the Men in Blue an opportunity for a comeback.

Malaysia and South Korea met in the first game of the Super 4s earlier today, and a tight contest between both sides ended in a 2-2 draw. So, if India manage to defeat Japan tonight, they will go top of the table.

India needed 15 goals against Indonesia to go above Pakistan on Goal Difference (GD) and qualify for the Super 4s. And with merely two minutes to go in the game, Dipsan Tirkey took India to the mark with a goal through a penalty corner. India eventually won 16-0 to keep their bid for the Asia Cup title alive.