Last gasp win for South Korea

M.S.Unnikrishnan

Tribune News Service

Korea scored the match-winner off a penalty corner seconds before the final hooter to down a fighting Argentina 2-1 in a crucial Group A match of the 12th Hero Honda FIH World Cup Hockey Championship at the National Stadium here tonight. Korea did not display the flair and speed they had exhibited while playing a 2-2 draw against England in their opening match, but after being down by a goal, they stirred into action to slot in two goals in the final eight minutes to earn full points and keep themselves in the hunt for a semifinal berth.

Argentina, who were handed out a 0-3 hiding by The Netherlands in their opening match to become the only team not to have scored a goal, corrected that abberation when they took the Koreans by surprise when with a goal from Facundo Callioni 18 minutes into the second half.

Juan Martin Lopez took the ball down the wing, and crossed into the dee which was put into goal by Facundo. The Koreans, till then playing a kind of passive hockey though they had forced two penalty corners in the first half, revved into action and pulled off the equaliser when Sik Hye You made an electrifying rund down the right flank, crossed the ball into the goal area, and Yong Nam Lee struck the ball home in a trice.

And when the match was heading towards a possible draw, Korea made a fierce counter attack which was baulked by Argentina inside the circle, which fetched the Koreans a penalty corner after referral. Woo Hyun Nam packed so much power in his hit off the penalty corner that the Argentine defence was caught napping.

The Koreans were slack initially and Argentina took full advantage to showcase their dribbling act. Yet, it were the Koreans who came near scoring with their sporadic raids which got them two penalty corners, though both went abegging.

Korea also wasted their third penalty corner before coming good with the fourth, when it mattered the most. Argentina also earned three penalty corners but they were quickly dipossed by the speedy Koreans inside the circle. This win was a sweet revenge for Korea for their 3-5 defeat at the hands of the Latin American team in the 1994 World Cup. Argentina had also beaten Korea in the 2008 Champions Trophy and 2005 Champions Challenge by 4-2 and 5-2 margins, respectively.