India, Pakistan share spoils; South Korea win

Favourites India and Pakistan settled for a 1-1 draw in their blockbuster Pool A match of the Men’s Junior Asia Cup hockey championship in Salalah on Saturday night.

The result left Pakistan leading Pool A with seven points from three matches with a better goal difference (23) than India (20) who also have the same points.

India scored the first goal of the match when Sharda Nand Tiwari found the target from a penalty corner.

India led 1-0 at the half-time in the intensely-fought match.

Pakistan hit the equaliser in the third quarter with a nice field goal from Basharat Ali in the 44th minute. Both the teams made efforts for a winning goal in front of vociferous supporters who turned out in large numbers at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex hockey pitch in Salalah.

SOUTH KOREA SECOND

In Pool B, South Korea beat Bangladesh 3-1 to confirm their second position on Sunday.

South Korea led Bangladesh after the first half with a penalty corner goal by Dohyun Lim in the 11th minute. In the 36th minute,

Geonwoo Park extended the lead to 2-0 with a brilliant field goal.

When Bangladesh pressed for their first goal, the Koreans scored again in the last quarter.

Minkwon Kim was clinical in his finish from a penalty corner in the 54th minute to make it 3-0.

Two minutes to end the match, Mohammed Hasan netted for Bangladesh to make the final score as 3-1.

The win confirmed South Korea’s second spot with nine points from four matches behind leaders Malaysia who have same points from three matches. Bangladesh are third with six points from four matches.

Oman, who posted their first win against Uzbekistan 3-2 on Saturday, were fourth while Uzbekistan remained last with no points.