Burly South Korean defender Lee Young Kuk showed enormous grit and greatness to punch a goal from the lost opportunity the peninsular outfit got — a penatlty corner taken after the hooter — to deny clear victory to Pakistan. Pakistan was leading 3-2 at 67th minute, but conceded the fatal penalty corner two minutes later to provide the opportunistic team to spilit points.
Koreans looked formidable in the first half with two clear goals lead throughout. Nam Hyun Woo scored off a penalty corner in the 14th minute while another defender Lim Woo Geun added one more through another penalty corner in the 33rd minute.
Pakistan flanks showed some urgency on change of sides, and got the dividends 15 minutes later when Inayat Ullah scored from a melee. Then it was left to Kashif Ali to do the rest. He scored a brace to give life to the struggling team.
However, fitter and swifter, the Koreans pressed hard and got the reward with the hardworking right wing bringing in the last minute penalty corner.
Korea, with a win and draw tops the table in Pool B on goal average.
In the first match of the day, Bangladesh came alive to thrash Oman 7-1, and with that to register first win in two matches. Bangladesh is placed third.
Korea’s last match tomorrow is against Oman while Pakistan will take on Bangladesh.
As both Bangladesh and Oman are weak teams, it would depend whether Pak or Korea will score more goals so that they can improve their goal average, and thus avoid India on the other pool. India is sitting pretty, and is expected to top the pool.
India will meet Singapore tomorrow in the forth match