Gurjant Singh’s opportunistic goal just 58 seconds before hooter helped India salvage a draw from the far superior South Koreans, who surprised India with precision, poise and polish in whatever they did today in the first match of the newly introduced Super 4s’ contest in Dhaka Asia Cup. India and Korea drew the exciting and entertaining match 1-1.
Almost three quarters of the match, India showed ball possession skills while Korea turned in a superlative defence plank not to yield anything to their rival, not even penalty corners.
India actually got one which it wasted trying out an indirect, and then the other gone off in the timely referral from Korean captain in the fag end of the match.
Indian coach Sojerd Marijne sent Yellow Shirt for Harmanpreet Singh replacing goalie Suraj Karkera to pep up the attack in the last four minutes, and it paid dividends.
Pool proof in their protective techniques, Korean faced the Indian fury in that spell but a feeble shot on goalie tricked toward other end of the bar, where lurking Gurjant Singh lifted the ball and sent diagonally in to the net much to the relief of Indian fans (1-1).
Immediately, Yellow shirt was withdrawn, Suraj was sent in, all in an attempt to save Indian net for another one minute. It happened and the Indian bench was much relaxed.
Earlier, after a long spells of subdue and defence, Korean caught the Indian rearguard in a surprise that ended in Lee Jungjin’s field goal before the end of third quarter (1-0).
Fittingly he was given the Best Goal of the Match award.
Its an early wake up call for the India as it takes on Malaysia tomorrow before Pak tussle come in on 21st.
India failed to capitalize its territorial superiority into goals in the first half. All it could manage was a mere penalty corner which went abegging in an indirect try.
Best chance came when Chinglensana send an aerial cross close on top of D, but Ramandeep Singh’s deflection was wide on the left side of the net.
India and South Korea failed to move the scoreboard in the first half.
But in its entirety, the giants of Asian hockey played out another of great encounter for which they are known for.