Kuantan (Malaysia): India defeated South Korea 5-4 (2-2) via penalty shootout in the first semifinal match to storm into the final of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here Saturday.
The two sides were locked 2-2 at the end of the regulation time. For India, Talwinder Singh, Ramandeep Singh found the target in the regulation time while Seo Inwoo and Yang Jihun scored for the Koreans.
In the penalty shootout, Sardar Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Akashdeep and Rupinder Pal Singh scored as India entered the final. Indian captain PR Sreejesh, who took his place under the goal after being sidelined for two round-robin matches due to an ankle injury, stopped the fifth and final South Korean player in the penalty shoot-out, paving the way for India’s win.
Talwinder found some space and played a reverse hit to give India a vital 1-0 lead in the 14th minute. In the second quarter, South Koreans seemed much more disciplined and it paid off as a defensive error by Rupinder saw South Korea equalising in the 20th minute of the game. Inwoo slammed into the Indian net after Rupinder failed to trap the ball cleanly.
In the dying minutes of the second quarter, India got many chances to take the lead including a penalty corner that was denied by the South Korean custodian as both the teams went to half-time 1-1.
After the goal less third quarter, South Korea were the first to get a penalty corner in the 53rd minute and they successfully converted it. Yang Jihun’s goal helped them take the lead as Sreejesh was beaten by a low flick.
The drama unfolded in the last five minutes of the game as India grabbed the scoring opportunity with both hands as Sardar Singh played a move from the left by-line. He gave a pass to Ramandeep, who did not make a mistake.
The last few seconds saw both teams trying to penetrate in the circle but were unable to find the winner, taking the game to the shootout where India prevailed.
Indo-Asian News Service
