Women's Asian Champions Trophy Semis: India beat Japan 2-0: HIGHLIGHTS
The hosts edge out Japan to book a ticket to the final on Wednesday night.
Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2024 LIVE: Indian women's hockey team took on a spirited Japan in the second semi-final of the Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2024.
India, who had defeated Japan 3-0 earlier in the pool stage match, had to dig deep but eventually posted a 2-0 victory to progress to the final.
Catch all the highlights here.
India held the bulk of the possession for a vast majority of the game but were just unable to find the finishing touch.
It was in the 4th quarter that Deepika broke the deadlock via a penalty stroke in the 47th minute.
Thereafter, buoyed by the goal, India switched gears and in the 55th minute, a fantastic team move was finished by Lalremsiami.
There was no coming back for Japan from that blow.
They bow out but will take heart from the fact that their keeper, Kudo, was handed the player of the match award.
India had 13 PC's in all but were unable to convert any of those, an area that they'll have to improve upon on the final.
Nonetheless, India will take on China in the final on Wednesday night, in a quest to defend their title.
Thank you for staying with us through our live coverage.
Stay tuned to thebridge.in for more on Indian sports.
The hooter blows and India has beaten Japan!
They will now take on China in the finals on Wednesday night.
Japan earn a PC but the Indian keeper Devi makes the save after which the defence cleans up.
The wheels seem to be coming off now for Japan.
They've pulled their star keeper Kudo from the goal.
2:30' left on the clock now.
With 4:51s left in Q4, Lalremsiami finds the back of the net.
Sangita began the move and then Sunelita Toppo made a run on the right flank, made a circle penetration and passed it on to Lalremsiami, who finished the move in style.
What a team goal from India.
Japan has had nothing to show on the offense but Kudo, their keeper, has single handedly been keeping them in the game.
Vaishnavi, on the goal line, collects a pass from the rebound on the PC and pushes the ball goal bound but Kudo, the Japanese keeper, dives to her right and foils the attempt.
With goal in the bag, India now controlling the game, possession and play.
They earn yet another PC in the process.
Stay connected with The Bridge on #socials.