India on Sunday drew 2-2 with Korea to make a satisfactory start to its campaign in the 24th Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament here, in what was Dutchman Paul van Ass’s first match as the team’s chief coach.
India took the lead through Nikkin Thimmaiah (10th minute) before Korea scored twice through Hyesung Hyun (24th) and Seongkyu Lee (53rd) to reverse the scoreline. V.R. Raghunath (56th) came to India’s rescue with a penalty-corner conversion as both the teams took away one point each from the fixture.
Thimmaiah taps home
India’s opening goal came early as Thimmaiah shot home from close range in the 10th minute after receiving a pass from Ramandeep Singh.
Four minutes into the second quarter, India had great chances of extending its lead but the Korean goalkeeper Jaehyeon Kim made a double save to deny Dharamvir Singh and Satbir Singh.
The Koreans looked dangerous in counter-attacks and from one such move, managed to secure back-to-back penalty corners in the 24th minute, the second of which was converted by Hyun with a powerful high flick to the left of Indian goalkeeper Sreejesh. After the change of ends, the Indians continued to mount pressure on the Korean defence but their efforts failed to result in goals.
Korea then took the lead as Seunghoon deflected in a pass from Lee in the 53rd minute.
Stunned by the goal, the Indians went all out attacking and in the process secured their first penalty corner, which was perfectly executed by Raghunath.
Dwyer rewrites record
Earlier, in his record-breaking 322nd appearance for the Australia, veteran Jamie Dwyer scored the side’s fourth goal — and his 207th — in a 7-0 trouncing of Canada.
Olympic gold medallist and two-time World Cup-winner Dwyer went past former midfield maestro Jay Stacy’s record of 321 matches.
The results:
India 2 (Nikkin Thimmaiah 10, V.R. Raghunath 56) drew with Korea (Hyesung Hyun 24, Seongkyu Lee 53)
Australia 7 (Tim Cross 12, Dylan Wotherspoon 13, Eddie Ockenden 43, Jamie Dwyer 52, Trent Mitton 53, Glenn Simpson 54, Jake Whetton 56) bt Canada 0.
New Zealand 4 (Nick Haig 4, Simon Child 5, Andy Hayward 55, Shay Neal 57) bt Malaysia 2 (Ramadan Rosli 20, Shahrun Abdullah 52).