INDIA: South Korea defeated Japan 2-1 in a Pool B matchup of the FIH Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
South Korea vs Japan
Nagayoshi Ken converted team’s first opportunity from a penalty corner into a goal in the match’s opening minute. Lee Jungjun, however, scored South Korea’s equalizer in the eighth minute with a tricky field goal.
In the 14th minute, South Korea increased its momentum and won three consecutive penalty corners but failed to take advantage of them. In the first quarter, which ended 1-1, neither team had much to differentiate itself.
In the second quarter, South Korea increased the stakes. In the 23rd minute, Lee Jungjun retook the lead for South Korea with a powerful right-wing shot past the Japanese goalkeeper.
Both teams had a few more chances to score, but they didn’t take advantage of them. The game ended 2-1 in South Korea’s favour at the end of the first half.
In the 32nd minute, Japan wasted their second penalty corner opportunity. South Korea made amends and had an opportunity for a penalty corner in the 43rd minute, but they could not maintain control of the flick.
South Korea started the fourth and final quarter from where they left off in the third quarter, and in the 47th minute, they got three opportunities for penalty corners in succession. However, Japan’s solid defence stopped the opposition’s relentless attacks.
In the 50th minute, Japan won their third penalty corner, but South Korea’s Kim made a great save behind the bar to thwart the Japanese efforts.
Japan’s desperate search for an equalizer resulted in another penalty corner in the 53rd minute, but Jehyeonhad’s brilliant save stopped the goal attempt again.
South Korea’s defence saved a few more penalty corners and fought through some scary moments toward the end of the game to win 2-1.
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