Hosts survive eight PCs in final quarter to beat KOREA 3-2
CHENNAI: India's over-reliance on penalty corners has long been highlighted and decried. The issue sprung up again after their first two matches here. What has followed is a concerted effort to create more field goal opportunities and convert more clinically, and the game against Korea reflected that as the hosts scored two of their three goals from open play.
The visitors tried their best to claw their way into the contest, but fell short as India won 3-2 at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium on Monday. With the victory, the home team marched into the semifinals, having garnered 10 points from four matches.
The victory, though, did not come without its share of anxious moments. Despite being two goals down going into the last 15 minutes, Korea did not stop pressing forward, and earned nine PCs in the fourth quarter. After warding off the first eight, India could not keep out the last one as stand-in drag-flicker Jihun Yang - deputizing for Jang who was earlier injured and had to be stretchered off - hit it low into the right corner to set up a tense finish. India, however, held on to notch up their third win of the tournament.
Things, though, started off more fluently for India. In the sixth minute, Sukhjeet exhibited lovely stick work as he turned twice and hoodwinked two Korean defenders to create an opening from a tight space and pass it on to Nilakanta at the goalmouth, who calmly knocked it in. India looked good to press ahead after the early strike and kept up the aggression, but Korea soon found an equaliser against the run of play. Manjae Jung nudged the ball towards Kim Sunghyun at the top of the Indian D in the 12th minute and fired it in straight past Krishan Pathak, who did not do enough to cover the line and let it slide in through his legs.
Despite both sides' attacking approach, the first penalty corner of the match came only in the 23rd minute. Harmanpreet pounced on the opportunity with a flick that forced a goal-line block and induced another PC, which the Indian skipper drilled low and bang in the middle. This time, it was the turn of Korea custodian Kim Jaehyeon to let one past between his legs.
A buoyant India began the third quarter on a rousing note and soon worked up a delightful move in the 33rd minute. Gurjant Singh made an interception in the midfield and passed it to Akashdeep Singh, who sent it Shamsher Singh's way. Shamsher dribbled past the defender marking him and looped it towards Mandeep, who was waiting inside the circle. The Indian forward neatly took down the aerial ball and struck a stinging reverse hit on target to complete the well-synchronised team goal. Korea immediately tried to hit back via the PC route, but first rusher Amit Rohidas thwarted their attempt with a crucial deflection.
India's hot pursuit of goals continued in the final quarter as they won their fourth PC in the 47th minute, and Harmanpreet's shot on goal found Korea skipper Jang Jonghyun's foot on the goal-line. A penalty stroke resulted, but Kim dove full length to his right to deny Harmanpreet again. Kim again stood tall in the 50th minute, pulling off two spectacular saves to avert Mandeep's potential second.