Finance
The young Indian hockey team played some impressive and fast-paced hockey against South Korea in a Super 4s match on Tuesday, but an outright victory eluded them as a 4-4 draw knocked them out of the Asia Cup title race.
Following Malaysia’s 5-0 victory over Japan earlier in the day, an outright victory became a requirement for India to qualify for the summit clash.
Both India, Malaysia and Korea finished on five points each in the Super 4 stage but the Birendra Lakra-side fell behind on goal difference. Nilam Sanjeep Xess (9th minute), Dipsan Tirkey (21st), Mahesh Sheshe Gowda (22nd) and Shakthivel Mareeswaran (37th) scored for India, while Korea scored through Jang Jonghyun (13th), Ji Woo Cheon (18th), Kim JungHoo (28th) and Jung Manjae (44th).
On Wednesday, Korea will face Malaysia in the final, while India will face Japan in the third-fourth place classification match.
The first quarter was a midfield slugfest between the two teams, with both India and Korea attempting to gain the upper hand.
In the second minute, India earned a penalty corner, but Nilam Sanjeep Xess’ effort was saved by Korean goalkeeper Jaehyeon Kim.
However, from India’s second penalty corner, Nilam scored in the ninth minute with a low flick to the right bottom corner of the Korean net past Kim.
India conceded a penalty corner two minutes into the first quarter, and Jang Jonghyun was on target to bring Korea level.
Five minutes later, Ji Woo Cheon scored after being fed by Jungjun Lee following a defensive lapse by Pawan Rajbhar inside his own circle.
Three minutes later, India equalised when Dipsan Tirkey converted the team’s third penalty corner. A minute later, Mahesh Sheshe Gowda restored the lead by converting Vishnukant Singh’s counter-attack pass.
Korea earned another penalty corner, but this time the Indians held firm to keep Jang at bay.
Kim JungHoo equalised for Korea two minutes before halftime with a fine field goal from an acute angle, and the teams went into the break tied 3-3.
In the 37th minute, an unmarked Shakthivel Mareeswaran tapped in a cross from Sheshe Gowda on the right flank to restore India’s lead.
In the 42nd minute, Uttam Singh failed to connect with Rajkumar’s cross standing in front of an open goal.
A yellow card for Yashdeep Siwach, which resulted in a five-minute suspension, cost India dearly as Korea equalised when Manjae Jung deflected in a long ball from midfield.
Karthi Selvam came within 27 seconds of scoring for India, but Korean goalkeeper Kim Jaehyeon made a double save to deny the title holders a last-gasp winner.
Source:IE
