Lalit’s strike helps India hold S. Korea
kuantan — India drew 1-1 with South Korea in their second match of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament on Saturday.
For India, Lalit Upadhyay equalised in the 33rd minute for India after Junwoo Jeong had given the 1-0 lead to South Korea in the 10th minute. India started the proceeding on a positive note as Talwinder Singh penetrated the Korean defence. He made two shots from close range but Korean goalkeeper Dong Doopyo made a double save.
India, however did not give up and held the ball in the midfield to prepare for another attack. But the Koreans replied with the counter-attacks. The failed chance came when Jasjit Kular gave a loose pass to custodian PR Sreejesh and the Korean attacker intercepted the ball.
In the 10th minute, the sloppy marking by India resulted in a goal as Junwoo Jeong scored from the edge of the circle to give his team a vital lead. An error in passing by defender Rupinder Pal Singh gave South Korea a chance to counter-attack and Jeong pounced on ball to score.
The second quarter saw some early penetration by India as Sardar Singh injected the ball close to the goal post and Rupinder slammed hard, but the Korean goalkeeper got his hand out and saved.
The blue sticks also got their first penalty corner of the match but Korean goalkeeper Doopyo made an easy save of a flick that was direct.
India’s circle penetration was 15 while Korea have managed only five but yet it was Korea who lead till the end of the second quarter.