Koreans made Indians sweat before conceding a shoot out victory
Pugnacious Korea scared prodigal looking India throughout the sixty minutes of play, and in the process taught a few lessons as to how to make use of split away counters, before though failing to do the impossible – defeating higher ranked India in Kuantan.
When the score was tied 2-2 at the regulation time, and then first four players of each team converted their quota in the shoot out, Indian goalie PR Sreejesh summoned all his consummate experience to thwart the attempt of Lee Dae Yeol, and thus presenting ‘local’ Diwali gift to his mates, and his countrymen.
In the shoot out, Sardar Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, and Akashdeep (through again Rupinder in the ‘Video Referred’ stroke) before Birendra Lakra struck what turned out to the clincher.
Till then, Jung Man Jae, Kim Hyeon Gin, Lee Jung Jun and Bae Jon Suk kept their shoot out while Sreejesh managed to block the Lee’s.
He even blocked the Jong Suk’s but a referral by Korea led to video umpire awarding Stroke just like London Champions Trophy final.
“I have not seen all players scoring in a shoot out”, wondered Indian coach Roelant Oltmans.
India did play exceedingly well in the first and full second half but were unable to break the Korean wall fortified with additional medios.
However, when the Koreans got their chances, two men forwardline did exceedingly well to trouble Rupinder Pal led Indian defence.
India surrendered its 14th minute lead given by Talwinder Singh in six minutes time when unmarked Seo In Woo collected a cross from right flank to whack to the right of goalie Sreejesh (1-1). Despite each team getting two penalty corners each subsequently, scoreboard did not move at HT.
A minute before halftime, India got a golden chance to go up. Ramandeep SIngh cut through the defence from the right, and was in a position to hit, but was tripped. He tried to push the ball in even as falling, but umpire Ilango gave India its last of first half Penalty Corner. First charger cleared the shot.
After both Nikkin and Ramandeep Singh missed out some sitters, Korea went up seen minutes before the hooter, benefitting a liberal stroke award given by Malaysian umpire Ilango. Yang Jihun converted.
As things turn out painful for India, Sardar Singh who started the game as midfielder before moving to defence, in a spurt of moment, showed clean pair of heels to markers and moved upto right flank tip, and then shielding the ball along base line sent a minus for Ramandeep Singh, who just tapped in to the right of Hong Doopyo, the rival goalie, who did so well till then in containing marauding Indian forwards.
His class set the stage for final shoot out where once again Sreejesh turned out to be the KING.