MELBOURNE: A 4-2 win for England, their first of the tournament, ended South Korea’s finals chances at the men’s field hockey Champions Trophy on Saturday.
The Koreans, trailing Australia and Germany by two points, needed to beat England to keep in the hunt for a place in Sunday’s decider, but they were always chasing the game.
England dominated possession, played to their game plan and controlled the tempo.
Alastair Wilson scored England’s opener, batting in a rebound off South Korea goalkeeper Lee Myung-ho from Ashley Jackson’s penalty corner drag-flick.
South Korea hit back before the break when Seo Jong-ho punished England’s turnover of possession, and passed to Yoon Sung-hoon to beat England goalkeeper Nick Brothers.
England were awarded a penalty corner after a run into the circle by full-back Richard Mantell and Richard Alexander scored.
Nick Catlin finished off a break by Jackson to Jonty Clarke to stretch his team’s advantage to two goals.
South Korea hit back through Lee Nam-yong to stay in contention but their legs failed them in the last 10 minutes and they were unable to reproduce their late comebacks against Spain and Netherlands.
Mantell sealed the match with his last minute penalty corner, finishing the rebound off Lee Myung-ho.
It was England’s first win in the Champions Trophy since their 4-3 victory over South Korea in 2001.
“We started better today and we did not have to work as hard in defence as we have in previous games which let us control the passing later in the game,” England coach Jason Lee said.
Korea manager Cho Myung-jun said his team had paid for injuries and tiredness over the course of the tournament
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Australia and Germany need at least one point from their matches against Spain and Netherlands respectively later on Saturday to clinch a place in Sunday’s final.