India stares a Korean scare, strikes winner in the last minute

Young guns put their heart out today to help India gain a hard fought victory over Korea. In a cliff hanger of a match, where the Koreans came back strongly in the second half, India came out with a trump of a goal with just 55 seconds left in the clock to register their first win in two matches.

With Indian defence coming up well, and youngsters Birendra Lakra, Manpreet Singh and Kothajit figuring well to lend a helping hand, it was youngsters all the way. And it was fitting another up and coming player gave a finishing touch for the Indian glory.

Indian hung on to a lone goal lead till the last three minutes when hardworking Nam Hyun Woo converted a penalty corner to put paid to their joy, but young gun Kushalappa Sannuvanda Uthappa deflected a Tushar Khandker’s cross to give India full points on Day Two of the Azlan Shah Cup competition.

India went up with the only penalty corner it got in the match, but it was early in the match and put the Koreans on backfoot.
Sandeep Singh sent his flick to the right roof top to stamp his class here in Ipoh.

Indian forwards, though combined better today, gave torrid times to solid Korean defence though they still lacked killer shots.

“I am happy the way we played in the first half, but not the same with respect to second. We did not stick to plan in the second, and the players are fit enough to play only 50, 60 seconds, not the full match, against which we are working on long term basis, said some what relieved Michael Nobbs, Indian chief coach.

Sandeep Singh, who struck the early blow, felt India did a good job today and win over Korea is always a nice one.

He was not unduly disturbed on the fact that he is not getting enough penalty corners.
Michael Nobbs on the other hand blamed Indian fancy for shots at the goal rather than working for the penalty corners.

Indian captain Bharat Chetri too felt the same. “We have the world’s best penalty corners, and will be benefitted if we create more opportunities for him”.

India may have heaved a sigh of relief today, but the Koreans were arguing for long against the goal awarded in the last minutes. They were claiming infringement.

Michael Nobbs just said crisply: “ The Koreans at times were right against the umpiring decisions, but this one was completely out of question.

India will now take on Great Britain after a day’s break.