The Hindu : Sport : Korea draws with Pakistan

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Monday, Jul 14, 2008
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Korea draws with Pakistan

Principal Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Lee Yong Kuk’s goal off a penalty-corner in the dying seconds helped Korea to force an exciting, three-all draw against Pakistan in a Pool ‘B’ match of the sixth Junior Asia Cup hockey championship at Gachibowli Complex here on Sunday. Both the teams have one win and a draw each with one more game remaining.

In the first half it was a Korean show all the way as Lee Dong Hyun and Seo Jun Su worked in tandem upfront with splendid support from Nam Hyu Woo and Bae Jong Suk. Korea shot into lead in the 14th minute when Nam Hyun Woo converted a penalty-corner.

Pakistan had just two close looks at the rival goal in the first session while Korea earned five penalty-corners.

Series of attacks

Later Korea launched a series of attacks down both the flanks and took a 2-0 lead in the 33rd minute. Lim Woo Geun found the target by moving to the left of the ‘D’ to convert a penalty-corner.

On resumption however, Pakistan switched gears with a wonderful display of attacking game especially from Inayatullah, Shafqat Rasool (who was outstanding on the left-flank), and Syed Adeel Hussasin.

Expectedly Pakistan reduced the margin in the 55th minute when Inayatullah trapped a long ball in his own half and ran down the centre dribbling four defenders before essaying a delectable carpet drive into the right corner of the goal.

Morale-booster

The effort lifted the morale of his team and the combine of Fareed Ahmed, Abdul Haseem Khan and Syed Adeel Hussain constantly threatened the Korean defence. Soon penalty-corner specialist Kashif Ali levelled the scores (2-2) by converting the first penalty-corner Pakistan earned.

And later Korean Kang Moon Kyu committed an infringement on the advancing Shahzad Nasir to concede a penalty-corner. This was converted by Kashif Ali to give a 3-2 lead to Pakistan.

But just when it looked as if Pakistan would romp home, a counter-attack saw Korea earn a penalty-corner in the dying seconds. And then Lee Yong Kuk came up with a special effort to ensure that the honours were shared.

Earlier, Bangladesh scored a convincing, 7-1 win over Oman in a Pool ‘B’ match.

The results:

Bangladesh 7 (Rasel Mahmud 2, Md Hasan Jubair 2, Rimon Kumar Gosh, Krishno Kumar, Ashaduzzaman Chandan) bt Oman 1 (Basim Rajab).

Pakistan 3 (Inayatullah, Kashif Ali 2) drew with Korea 3 (Nam HyunWoo, LimWoo Geun, Lee Yong Kuk).

Monday’s matches: Malaysia vs Japan (2.30 p.m.); Pakistan vs Bangladesh (3.30 p.m.); Korea vs Oman (4.30 p.m.); India vs Singapore (5.30 p.m.).

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