Women's Hockey Final: India settles for a silver after losing 2-1 to Japan

Japan scored from two penalty corners as Neha Goyal's goal was not enough for India in the women's hockey final at Asian Games.

India's players celebrate after winning the women's field hockey semi-final match between India and China at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on August 29, 2018. (Photo by Juni Kriswanto / AFP)

Minute-by-minute action of the final between India and Japan.

7:50 pm: There goes the final hooter! FULL-TIME JAPAN 2-1. India settles for a silver. Japan wins the deserved gold medal as it had dominated the entire match and though India looked dangerous at times, there was clear lack of cohesion at the back which allowed Japan to go forward at will. Nevertheless, this has been India's best performance since 1998, as the women's team bettered its bronze-medal finish from the 2014 Incheon Games.

7:50 pm: WHAT A MISS BY VANDANA! So close yet so far for India as Vandana is unable to control her shot after being put through by Navneet at the far post.

7:49 pm: India loses the referral as the video umpire deems Lalaremsiami's shot as dangerous play inside the area.

7:47 pm: Indians go for a video referral as they believe there was a Japanese foot inside the area.

7:46 pm: Less than two minutes to go as goalkeeper is taken off as Sunita Lakra is marked as the outfield goalkeeper.

7:44 pm: India finally manages to get the ball out of its own half but upto no avail as Japan regains the possession.

7:43 pm: Monika receives a yelllow card for a foul on Japanese captain Natsuki Naito.

7:42 pm: Less than five minutes left on the clock as Japan wins back-to-back long corners in the Indian area.

7:40 pm: India is looking desperately for the equaliser but Japan's defence stands tall to foil the attempts.

7:38 pm: The Japanese have packed their circle completely as Gurjit battles four Japanese defenders on the baseline but is unable to take a shot on the goal.

7:37 pm: Another poor trapping by Gurjit gifts the Japanese with possession on the left side but Lilima comes up with an interception to clear the danger.

7:36 pm: Japan is happy to sit back and defend as Vandana is unable to shake off the defenders on the right side.

7:33 pm: Final quarter is underway!

7:31 pm: End of third quarter! Japan 2-1 India

7:28 pm: JAPAN LEADS 2-1! Superb variation from Japan in taking the penalty corner unlocks the Indian defence once again. Japan goes for the second battery of Motomi Kawamura as she goes wide on her left to shoot into the unguarded left side of Savita.

7:27 pm: Penalty corner for Japan!

7:26 pm: Though Japan has sharp counter-attacking ability, the Indians are able to slice through its defence at the most unexpected of times with some brilliant one-touch play.

7:24 pm: Navneet goes on a run down the right side and takes a reverse hit from outside the circle as the umpire whistles for a dangerous ball inside the area.

7:23 pm: Japan appeal for a penalty corner after Sunita blocks the reverse hit inside the box. The Indian defence looks more composed in the second half.

7:21 pm: Another danger averted by Japan. Neha Goyal puts Navjot through with beautiful flick, but the forward is unable to shoot through the crowded Japanese defence.

7:19 pm: Miss from Navjot! Reena Khokkar plays Vandana on after stealing possession from the Japanese on the left side but Navjot's final shot on the goal is tame and Japan clears the danger.

7:17 pm: Deepika's loose pass from the back is intercepted by Japan but the resultant shot on the Indian goal lacks the precision and sails wide off Savita.

7:15 pm: India tries to play out from the back, the midfielders look more assured on the ball.

7:14 pm: Third quarter starts!

7:04 pm: HALF-TIME! India 1-1 Japan. The Indians have managed to pull one back despite soaking up continuous pressure from the Japanese attackers and looked the better team in the final three minutes of the second quarter. But keeping possession will be crucial if Vandana and Co are to beat the well-organised Japanese defence again.

7:03 pm: Japan tries to go on counter but the Indian defence thwart the attempt on the edge of the circle.

7:01 pm: The goal has injected much needed rhythm into the Indian attack and the midfield as they try to dissect the Japanese defence through long passes.

6:58 pm: NEHA GOYAL EQUALISES FOR INDIA! Totally against the run of play. Navneet takes advantage of a poor clearance inside the Japanese area and shoots at the far post, which Neha manages to deflect into the goal.

6:56 pm: The Indians look unsettled as they are being outplayed in the midfield and the forwards are unable to string any meaningful passes to test the disciplined Japanese defence.

6:55 pm: Another Japanese attack comes from the left but Deep Grace manages to win a free hit for India.

6:54 pm: Udita hits a stray pass from the right which Japan takes advantage to launch a counter attack.

6:53 pm: Indian midfielders have so far been out of position leaving huge spaces for the Japanese to get forward.

6:51 pm: Sunita and Gurjit combine once again inside the circle to clear Japanese attack.

6:50 pm: Japan enters the Indian circle again but Gurjit comes up with a timely interception.

6:49 pm: Navjot wins a long corner but Japan closes down the space quickly to repel India's attack.

6:49 pm: Second-quarter starts!

6:47 pm: First quarter ends! Japan 1-0 India. India has managed to launch some impressive attacks but was unable to threaten the Japanese goal properly while Japan looked dangerous on the counter.

6:46 pm: Monika tries to turn away from the Japanese defender but her touch is tad bit heavy and Japan manage to clear it away to safety.

6:44 pm: Vandana shoots wide! The forward unleashes a reverse hit from the close range but she is unable to control it properly as the ball bounces away from the goal.

6:42 pm: GOAL JAPAN! Japan leads through Shihori Oikawa's drag flick who places her shot in the centre of the Indian goal, sending Savita to the wrong side.

6:41 pm: Penalty corner to Japan!

6:41 pm: Gurjit's drag flick is inside the reach of the Japanese goalkeeper who manages to parry it away to safety.

6:39 pm: It has been end-to-end stuff in the opening ten minutes of the game as Lalremsiami wins a penalty corner for India.

6:36 pm: Save from Savita! The Indian defence is appealing for a rising ball inside the cricle but the umpire is unmoved as the Japanese forward takes the shot forcing Savita into a superb save.

6:35 pm: Good positional sense from Deep Grace as she intercepts Japan's entry on the right side.

6:34 pm: Miss from the captain! Rani Rampal is put through by Navneet on the right, but the forward's hit is blocked by the goalkeeper. Navneet reaches the rebound but is unable to create enough space to shoot.

6:32 pm: Lilima enters the Japanese circle but has little support and India pass from the back.

6:31 pm: Japan makes two attacks in the first minute, but Savita is in position to thwart the danger.

6:30 pm: India vs Japan: First-quarter of the gold medal match starts!

6:29 pm: Gurjit Kaur, Vandana Katariya, Navneet Kaur and captain Rani Rampal will all be crucial for India's fortunes today.

6:28 pm: The players take to the field for the national anthems.

- India women's team has gone unchallenged in the group stages scoring 38 goals and conceding just once. Japan has also been undefeated in the group stages scoring 24 goals and conceding 3.

- India women's hockey team has managed to win the Gold medal in Asian Games only once---way back in 1982, New Delhi when women's hockey was introduced in the continental event. Its previous best finish was in 1998 Bangkok Games where it lost to South Korea in the final.

- Japan, on the other hand, is in search of its first ever gold medal in Asian Games, having finished thrice in 1986, 1994 and 2006 games.