Indian juggernaut did not roll smoothly today despite initial indications sounded otherwise. Starting on electric phase India stunned the mighty South Koreans with a goal inside first thirty seconds after the ball was set in motion, and added another one three minutes later to make a dream (2-0) start one would have asked for. For a while it appeared India will smash another record, which had been its trend in the past week, but the Koreans consumed another shocker within seconds from the start of second quarter (3-0) before coming out strongly, dominate the field proceedings for next two quarters which saw narrowing down of waht looked an unassailable score to 3-2. The Koreans are the only team so far to breach the Indian citadel here in Jakarta.
Then came the Manpreet Singh stunner that turned the match in India’s favour once for all. Fleet-footed Manpreet Singh turned in a Champagne stuff in the 49th minute. Getting peach of a feed from Akashdeep Singh, he took a strong reverse hit in an one-to-one situation against the goalie, to see the ball crash into the cage (4-3). The way the goal was conceived and executed really spoke about the kind of fire the team stocks in its belly.
Korean coach Kim Young Kyu soon changed goalie Doopyo Hong with Sa Young Lee.
India and Korea added a goal each to their tally before full time, but the message of the day was that India need to be cautious as business end of the Asian Games hockey approaches. India was not as solid in its defence against Korea as it was so far here. Koreans did not have enough exposure and experience but never fall short of aggression which they proved today.
Later after the match, Pakistan easily overcame Malaysia to top its pool. Now, both India and Pakistan have won all their four matches and top their pools. Therefore, there is no semifinal clash between them.
Both teams need to play a match more. Only after that the second placed team in the pool A can be arrived at. Korea and Japan have same win-loss and points record. Korea has better goal difference, need just a draw to take on Pakistan in the semis. Whereas
Japan need to beat Korea to stake its semi-final claim.
Japan-Korea match is schedule for Tuesday, the last pool match of the ongoing Asian Games.