The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Korea shocks the Netherlands

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Tuesday, Dec 04, 2007
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Korea shocks the Netherlands

S. Thyagarajan

Kuala Lumpur: Persistence and pugnacity paid rich dividends to the Koreans who stunned the Netherlands, inflicting an incredible 6-2 defeat on the defending champion in the Champions Trophy on Monday.

To describe it as spectacular would be no exaggeration.

This is only the second time in the history of this event that a Dutch has team lost by a margin of four goals, the last being a 7-3 loss to the Aussies in 1980.

Eventful as the match was, the two goals decided by the video umpire from India, Satinder Kumar, reflected the resilience and fortitude of the Koreans, whose blitzkrieg in the second half after a 1-1 score at the break exposed the frailty of the tiring Dutch defenders, including the seasoned goal-keeper Guus Vogels. The Koreans, who share a seven-point tally with the Dutch, are very much in contention for the final, having played the top guns with amazing consistency.

They drew with Spain, overcame the Aussies and went down to Germany after leading for a fairly long period.

It was not merely hard running and aggression that brought the Koreans this outstanding win.

No one symbolised the assurance of the frontline sallies more than You Hyo Sik. But the hero of the day was the defender, Jang Jong Hyun, who pumped in three goals.

There was no clue of the impending doom for the Dutch when Wouter Hermkens flicked in a penalty corner.

It was not until when Jong’s carpet drive from a penalty corner brought the equaliser that one took notice of the Korean comeback.

With Satinder ruling in favour of Matthijs Brouwer’s deflection after watching the video, the Dutch had everything going well.

Jong came up with two goals (one decided by video umpire) followed by Lee Nam and Kim Jong Geo.

Even as Germany surged to its fourth win in a row, beating Spain 4-1 to top the table, the Aussies recorded a laboured 1-0 victory over Great Britain.

The results: Korea 6 (Jang Jong Hyun 3, Kim Sam Seok, Lee Nam Yong, Kim Joung Geo) bt The Netherlands 2 (Wouter Hermkens, Matthijs Brouwer).

Australia 1 (Edward Ockenden) bt Great Britain 0.

Germany 4 (Oliver Korn, Timo Wess, Matthius Witthaus, Jan Marco Montag) bt Spain 1 (Sergi Enrique).

Pakistan 2 (Akhtar Ali, Gazhanfar Ali) drew with Malaysia 2 (Chua Boon Huat, Jiwa Mohan).

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