India beat Korea 3-2 in Azlan Shah Cup hockey

IPOH - India managed to keep a rampaging South Korea at bay and emerged 3-2 winners in their third match of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey here Sunday.

Defending champions India now have seven points from three matches, after their 1-1 draw against China and 4-2 win over Pakistan.

The match witnessed as many as 17 penalty corners. The Koreans are themselves to be blamed for the loss as they could convert only two of their 11 short corners.

India, who are without expert drag flickers Sandeep Singh and Diwakar Ram in the tournament, earned seven penalty corners and failed to convert any. Dhananjay Mahadik missed several opportunities.

India opened the scoring through Arjun Halappa in the 10th minute. Two minutes later Korea responded through a penalty corner conversion by Nam Hyun Woo, who had pumped in three goals in their opening match against Egypt.

India went 2-1 ahead in the 45th minutes when Shivendra Singh’s shot was deflected in by a lurking Tushar Khandekar. India increased the tally in the 60th minute through Shivendra, who was adjudged the player of the match.

Korea then made several forays but the Indian defence stood strong. Korea found their second goal in stoppage time, with Hyun Woo’s PC strike.

India were awarded two penalty corners in quick succession in the 6th and 7th minutes. And off the second, which was cleverly worked, the ball was eventually diverted to Sardar Singh but his pass across the face of the Korean goal went abegging.

The Indians were, however, not to be denied and Shivendra, after his burst through the left, evading two tackles, sent the ball to Halappa who slotted into an empty goal after beating Korean keeper Lee Myung Ho.

Korea levelled the scores through a penalty corner as ace marksman Hyun Woo sent the ball into the roof of the net not giving any chance to Indian goalkeeper Bharat Chhetri.

Both teams created openings but failed to score and at halftime they trooped off the pitch on level terms.

India got the lead when Shivendra’s shot was deflected into the goal by a Khandekar.

Korea were awarded their fourth penalty corner in the 48th minute but instead of going for the direct attempt, they went for a set piece and it fizzled out.

Soon, India made Korea pay as Danish’s cross found Shivendra, who tapped in to put India 3-1 ahead.

Korea then made relentless forays and earned as many as five penalty corners but Hyun Woo’s strike came too late in the day.