Hockey
Asian Champions Trophy: India pips South Korea 3-2, seals semifinal berth
India survived South Korea's late attack. The hosts returned with a 3-2 win to seal a spot in the semifinal of the Asian Champions Trophy.
India are defending champions of the Asian Champions Trophy. (FILE PHOTO: Getty)
Chennai: India overcame defending champion South Korea 3-2 in their third round-robin league match in the six-team Asian Champions Trophy at Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai on Monday.
Coming on the back of a confident win against Malaysia, the Indian team started well against South Korea and attacked from the onset of the first quarter.
It did not take India much time to take the lead as Nilakanta Sharma opened the scoring in the sixth minute when he scooped a goal in the roof of the net following brilliant stick work by Sukhjeet Singh near the Korean goal.
Korea fought back quickly, with Kim Sunghhyun tapping a delivery from Manjae Jung at the edge of the circle and firing it low past Indian goalkeeper Krishan Pathak for an equaliser.
Korea kept the pressure on India in the second quarter, with Indian veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh replacing Pathak and coming up with two stunning saves.
In the 23rd minute, India earned three back-to-back penalty corners, with skipper Harmanpreet Singh converting the third one and giving India a 2-1 lead over the Koreans.
For the rest of the quarter, Harmanpreet got another PC which the Korean defended well.
India started well in the second half, and Mandeep Singh extended India's lead to 3-1, converting a quick pass from Shamsher Singh.
In the third quarter, the Koreans launched a wave of attacks in the Indian circle in search of an equaliser. They missed two penalty corners, and their goalkeeper Kim Jayehon made a brilliant save to deny Akashdeep Singh.
In the final quarter, the Indian team opted to defend after Harmanpreet Singh saw his penalty stroke saved by the Korean goalkeeper in the 47th minute.
It was one-way traffic after that, as Korea earned nine consecutive penalty corners in the space of ten minutes. But India survived the scare, thanks to the vigil presence of PR Sreejesh in the goal and some brilliant rushing by Amit Rohidas and Manpreet Singh.
Yet, with two minutes to go for the final hooter, Jihun Yang breached the Indian defence, sending a low strike past Sreejesh.
But the Indian team left the pitch with full points as they won the match 3-2.
India will face Pakistan in their final preliminary round game on August 9 after a day's rest.
