Dhaka: Pakistan got off to a good start but didn’t get an ideal ending.
Pakistan suffered a thrilling 11-goal defeat against South Korea at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium here on Tuesday in the semi-finals of the Asian Champions Trophy.
South Korea’s 6-5 win opened the title match against Japan, who later beat India 5-3 on Wednesday. Pakistan, who took a 1-0 lead in the third minute against South Korea, will take on arch-rivals India in the third-place playoff before the final.
Pakistan and India were joint holders of the Asian title and Pakistan’s defeat marks the first time since the start of the tournament that they have failed to qualify for the final.
“It’s disappointing for us because we scored more field goals,” Pakistan captain Umar Bhutta said after the match. We played a good match but the two goals we scored from penalty corners hurt us.
A penetrating run from Umar gave Pakistan an early lead as he entered the circle and fired a fierce shot into the far corner leaving South Korean goalkeeper Kim Jaehyon no chance.
However, Pakistan’s defense was not good and South Korea took two penalty corners in the 12th minute to take a 2-1 lead. Four-goaler Jang Jonghyun made no mistake from seven yards on both occasions.
Junaid Manzoor took Pakistan level in the 22nd minute, but Jung restored South Korea’s lead three minutes later by converting a penalty corner.
Afraz leveled Pakistan with another field goal five minutes later, but it was South Korea who went 4-3 at half-time after Yang Zihun converted another penalty corner. Gone.
South Korea had a two-goal advantage when they scored their only field goal in the 44th via Jeong Junwoo.
Mubashar Ali restored parity with back-to-back penalty corners in the 47th and 51st penalty corners and Jung broke Pakistan’s heart with a drag-flick winner four minutes ahead of time.
Olympic bronze medalist India were favorites ahead of the semi-final against Japan after beating the same opponent 6–0 in their final round-robin match, but the Japanese had other plans.
Playing with the defense of the Manpreet Singh-led side, the Japanese looked completely different from the start.
Shota Yamada’s first-minute penalty was added by Raiki Fujishima in the second minute and Yoshiki Kirishita made it 3-0 for Japan, the 2018 Asian Games gold medalist, in the 14th.
Dilpreet Singh swung the ball home in the 17th minute to take back a delivery for India, but Japan ended the contest with both goals scored by Kosei Kawabe in the 35th minute and Ryoma Uka three minutes later. There were swift counter-attacks.
Harmanpreet Singh (43rd) and Hardik Singh (58th) took India closer but that was not enough.
This is Japan’s second win against India in 19 matches.
Published in Dawn, December 22, 2021