S. Korea edges into semis of Indira Gandhi hockey
S. Korea edges into semis of Indira Gandhi hockey
NEW DELHI (AFP): Asian champion South Korea stormed into the semi-finals of the Indira Gandhi field hockey tournament with a classy 3-1 win over Australia Tuesday, while Poland held South Africa to a shock 2-2 draw.
The speedy Koreans, Asian Games gold medalists in Hiroshima, proved too strong for the second-string Aussies while recording their second successive win in Group B of the eight-nation competition.
Versatile midfielder and skipper Park Shin Heum put the Koreans ahead a minute before half-time from a pass by Keon Wook- Kang.
But his Australian counterpart Jason Duff equalized with a stinging penalty corner shot two minutes into the second-half.
The Koreans, however, asserted their supremacy by banging in two more goals midway through the second session through Keon Wook-Kang and Seung Tae-Song.
South Korea, which edged past South Africa 4-3 in its first match, is certain to top Group B if it defeat or draw against Poland in its last league encounter today.
Australia, which trounced Poland 5-0 in an earlier match, was left with two points from as many matches and a game against South Africa in hand. The Africans and the Poles are tied with a point each.
South Africa has itself to blame for sharing points with Poland after dominating a large part of the match.
It twice allowed Poland to draw level after taking the lead, the second equalizer coming four minutes from the final whistle through Piotr Adrian.
Shaun Cooke's penalty corner put the South Africans ahead in the 11th minute, before Polish skipper Slawo Mir equalized six minutes later.
Shane Viviers struck for South Africa again in the 52nd minute, but Poland's last-ditch effort was rewarded when Adrian shot in towards the close.
Kazakhstan leads Group A with two successive wins. Malaysia, England and hosts India are the three other teams in the group.
Standings
Group A Kazakhstan 2 2 - - 4 2 4 India 2 1 1 - 3 2 3 England 2 - 1 1 1 2 1 Malaysia 2 - - 2 3 5 0
Group B S Korea 2 2 - - 7 4 4 Australia 2 1 - 1 6 3 2 S Africa 2 - 1 1 5 6 1 Poland 2 - 1 1 2 7 1