2019 Women's FIH Series Finals : India vs Japan Live Score, Commentary and Live Updates 23/06/2019

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Sjoerd Marijne and Scientific Advisor Wayne Lombard congratulate Gurjit Kaur who receives the Top Scorer award

FT: IND 3-1 JPN

The Indian Eves held their nerves in a nail-biting contest against Japan as Gurjit's brace guided them to a remarkable victory in the Final!#IndiaKaGame #FIHSeriesFinals #RoadToTokyo #INDvJPN pic.twitter.com/d9T2QllmGe
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) June 23, 2019

THREE PC GOALS SEPARATE THE TWO SIDES AS FAR AS THE SCORE SHEET IS CONCERNED - BUT THE INDIANS WERE BY FAR THE BETTER SIDE THIS EVENING - THE JAPANESE DEFENDED GRITTILY BUT IN THE END THE INDIANS WERE QUITE UNSTOPPABLE

WHAT DO THE STATS SAY???

THE INDIANS SHOULD HAVE SCORED A FEW MORE FOR SURE - 26 CIRCLE ENTRIES AND 10 SHOTS ON GOAL AS COMPARED TO THE JAPANESE WHO MANAGED ONLY HALF AS MANY CIRCLE ENTRIES - AND HALF AS MANY SHOTS ON TARGET

EIGHT PCs FOR INDIA - THREE CONVERTED WHILE THE JAPANESE EARNED TWO IN THE FINAL QUARTER BUT FAILED TO CAPITALIZE

GURJIT KAUR IS THE HIGHEST SCORER OF THE HIROSHIMA LEG OF THE FIH SERIES FINALS WITH AS MANY AS ELEVEN PC GOALS

JUBILATION FOR THE INDIAN GIRLS WHO HAVE AVENGED THE JAKARTA DEFEAT - THE ASIAN GAMES CHAMPIONS BEATEN AT HOME BY SJOERD MARIJNE'S CHARGERS

FULL TIME: INDIA 3 - JAPAN 1

INDIA 3 - JAPAN 1

GURJIT KAUR SEALS THE DEAL FOR INDIA - GETS HER ELEVENTH - INDIA HAVE THEIR THIRD GOAL

59' INDIA HAVE A PC MUCH TO THE CHAGRIN OF THE JAPANESE GIRLS

58' The Indians taking their time in the Japanese 23 - the Japanese try a counter but are foiled in the nick of time

57' The Indians living dangerously - the PC is saved but the Japanese causing problems for the Indian defence by switching flanks with great cohesion

56' JAPAN HAVE ANOTHER PC

Danger averted as the PC routine does not go as planned

54' DANGER FOR THE INDIANS - JAPAN HAVE A PC

53' The Indians try the left flank - Miyu Suzuki attempts to get past two Indian defenders all by herself

GURJIT CHARGED DOWN - AND THE JAPANESE RUNNER GETS CARRIED OFF ON A STRETCHER

52' INDIA HAVE A PC - CAN THEY SEAL THE DEAL???

51' Long overhead clearance from the Japanese - but the Indians are back in the Japanese 23

50' Navneet weaves her way into the striking circle - the red shirts clear - the Indians regain possession

48' The Japanese girls switch flanks - once - twice - but cannot find a way forward

47' GREAT CHANCE FOR INDIA - NAVNEET'S TOMAHAWK IS PADDED AWAY BY THE JAPANESE GOALKEEPER

46' India into the attack but the Japanese clear the lines with a 16-yard free hit

The Indians missing one chance too many at the goal mouth - and the Japanese runners managing to charge Gurjit down a few times - but finally, India's star drag-flicker finds the target - can India hold on???

END OF Q3: INDIA 2 - JAPAN 1

INDIA 2 - JAPAN 1

THIS TIME - GURJIT TAKES THE AERIAL ROUTE - HOW MANY CAN SHE MISS - GURJIT SCORES HER TENTH - INDIA HAVE THE LEAD

44' The Indians have the upper hand - but unable to get things right in the striking circle - PC FOR INDIA

42' Anxious moments for the Indian defence - who manage to survive a couple of swift attacks

41' Gritty defending from the Japanese girls keeping India at bay

40' Neither side able to move upfield - the Japanese do but Savita watches the ball sail out of harm's way

38' RANI'S SHOT FINDS A JAPANESE FOOT IN FRONT OF GOAL - NO PC SAYS THE UMPIRE

37' The Indians waste 3 PCs and Japan have the ball deep in Indian territory

YET ANOTHER PC AFTER THE JAPANESE RUNNERS CHARGE GURJIT DOWN

35' THE FLICK IS SAVED BUT THE INDIANS HAVE ANOTHER PC - THE JAPANESE PROTEST

34' THE INDIANS HAVE A PC - CAN THEY TAKE THE LEAD????

33' THE INDIANS FUMBLE AT THE GOAL MOUTH AFTER DOING A GREAT JOB TO OUTDO THE JAPANESE DEFENCE

32' NAVJOT'S REVERSE HIT IS PADDED AWAY BY THE JAPANESE GOALKEEPER

31' The Indian coach looks on as the Indians fail to advance into the Japanese early in the second half

Three shots on goal for the Indians - just the one for Japan

Eleven circle entries for the Indians - just two for Japan

Two PCs for India with the first converted - none for Japan

But the scores are level as the teams go into the dressing room for the long-break- what will Marijne tell his chargers???

A barren second quarter in which the defensive units of both sides put up a creditable show. A slap shot off a PC from Rani in the 3rd minute gives India the lead but they fail to convert their second PC.

The Japanese equalize through Kanon Mori who deflects one in after the Indian defence is beaten in the 11th minute

All to play for in the second half - the Indian defence needs to be commended for not conceding a PC thus far - in spite of some sustained aggression from the hosts

HALF-TIME: INDIA 1 - JAPAN 1

28' Good clean defending by the Indians who run the ball out of danger after a period of sustained pressure from the hosts

27' Deep Grace deftly puts the ball out of play after being shadowed by 3 Japanese strikers

26' The Indians resort to back passes as they fail to spot any gaps upfield

24' Lilima manufactures a good move - but the Japanese outnumber the Indian strikers up front

22' Siami brought down - but is back up in a flash as the Japanese defence have a 16-yard free hit to relieve the pressure

21' The width of the field being put to good use by Japan - who make it into the Indian 23 but fail to advance any further

19' The Japanese not allowing the Indian strikers any room to manoeuvre - as they scamper ahead to launch an attack of their own

17' Rani fails to trap a cross in the Japanese circle - Navneet and Siami manage to penetrate the striking circle- too many red shirts in the vicinity - NEHA SHOOTS WIDE