Match 20 - Korea v India
6th Asia Cup Women’s Hockey Championship - Korea v India (5 : 2)
Match Review - <Official Match Report>
Day 7
2nd semi final
Korea vs India
Korea will play Japan tomorrow in the final of the 6th Asia Cup Womens Hockey Championship at Kings Park after scoring a comprehensive 5-2 win over India in the 2nd semi final of the competition. Japan had earlier booked the other final slot with pulsating 2-1 win over China.
India managed to contain the speedy Korean forwards early in the match by slowing the game down and then using captain Mamta Kharab and Jasjeet Kaur to take the ball up into an attacking position in the Korean circle.
Korea however gradually began to take control after the Indians allowed them more freedom in the midfield, forcing two penalty corners in the 11th and 16th minutes that were both saved by India.
But the relentless Korean pressure was taking its toll on India and in the 22nd minute their forwards stormed into India’s circle to draw goal keeper Marita Tirkey and allow Kim Da Rae to score the game’s first goal.
Just three minutes later Korea went 2-0 up after an Indian defensive mix up in the goal area allowed Kim Jong Eun to score the Korean’s second goal.
And after that goal, it became obvious that India had a mountain the climb to stay in the match with the pace and power of Koreans telling as the teams went into the interval with a 2-0 lead.
Eleven minutes into the second half, Korea struck again when Cheon Seul Ki scored a well taken field goal to make it 3-0 that saw India down but not quite out.
With India on the attack and forcing a penalty corner in the 49th minute, captain Mamta Kharab converted to give India their first goal of the match. Korea however struck back almost immediately to go 4-1 ahead with a field goal scored by Seo Hye Jin to put the issue beyond doubt.
Korea went 5-1 up in the match with just 11 minutes left on the clock when Kim Da Rae converted a penalty corner.
But the script was not quite finalised as India’s captain Mata Kharab scored a somewhat controversial second goal in the 63rd minute after deflecting a bouncing cross from outside the circle into the Korean net to make the final score 5-2 to the East Asian side.
Final Score Korea 5 : India 2
Goal scorers: Korea; Kim Da Rae 2; Kim Jong eun,Cheon Seul Ki, Seo Hye Jin
India; Mamta Kharab 2