Two goals in three minutes into the second half was the wake up call the Indian men’s hockey team needed to up its game against Korea in Pool A. India eventually won 5-3 but not before Korea gave a scare to Sreejesh and his men on Sunday.
As it stands, the win put India firmly on top of the table with a humongous goal difference and game against Sri Lanka in hand before the semifinals where it is likely to face Malaysia which lost 4-1 to Pakistan in the last league game of the day to be placed second in Pool B for the time being.
It looked to be yet another one-sided encounter in the tournament for India that has steamrollered all opposition so far before the double strike by Korean captain Manjae Jung in the 33rd and 35th minutes stunned the Indians. Till then, the defending champion had been cruising along, dominating and attacking at will even as Korea sat back and relied on counters.
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The opening goal came in the first minute through a penalty stroke and the next four minutes later, Chinglensana deflecting a Manpreet free hit in. A third lifted in over the head of the Korean goalkeeper put India in control. Jung’s twin strikes past a lethargic defence, however, put the fight back into the Indian side as it went out to restore its lead successfully.
Coach Harendra Singh, however, looked at the positives, giving credit to his team for picking up the intensity after the two setbacks. The team, though, would be hoping there would be no more here on.