Korea enter final by defeating Malaysia

Chennai, Sep 8 (UNI) Two times champion Korea scored two splendid opportunistic goals to carve out a 2-1 win over Malaysia and enter the final of the seventh Asia Cup hockey tournament here this evening.

Oh Dae Kun put Korea ahead in the seventh minute after which the Malaysians equalised in the second session through captain Azlon Msron. But the Koreans increased the lead through Yoon Sung Hoon in the 59th minute and entered the final for the third time after the 1994 and 1999 editions, when they had also gone on to win the title.

The Korean assault came in spite of a splendid show by Malaysian goal keeper KumarSubrameiam who was declared Man of the Match.

The Malaysians went into the match with the objective of improving their best display of fourth place finish in the Asia Cup.

This was their best chance as the team thought coming into the game on the strength of their win over the Koreans in the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament on home turf.

However, the Koreans caught them on the wrong foot as early as the seventh minute of the match. After the Malaysians made a few good forays in tandem with the rivals, the Asia giants Korea banged home a goal off a melee in a left flank move. In front of the goal mouth Oh Dae Keun sounded the boards with a defence splitting shot.

The Koreans then came very near to increasing their lead forcing a penalty corner. But Jang Jong Hyun's drag flick was well guarded by Malaysian goal keeper Kumar Subremaniam.

The Malaysians had their moments of domination through Azlon Misron and Tahmd Tajudin. They also forced a penalty corner but failed to convert and in the 28th minute, Tahmad Tajudin failed to connect a reverse flick from the top of the D.

After the Malaysians saved themselves from another penalty corner chance for Korea, the latter went in with a not so commanding 10 lead at half time.

However, trooping into the second session, the Malaysians had their equaliser coming to them on a plater. Off a left flank move their captain Azlon diving on top of the D deflected the ball into the goal, with only one Korean defender away from the ball and an advancing goal keeper Ko Dong Sik, in the 38th minute.

The Koreans then played to their strength, forcing penalty corners. But they increased their lead through a brilliant field goal by the marauding centre forward Koon Sung Hoon after failing to convert two penalty corners. Koon sent the ball racing into the goal unleashing his shot with a swerve to his right in the 59th minute.

Korea led 2-1 and retained the supremacy with Malaysia failing to convert two penalty corners in tandem.

Korea await the winner of the second semi-final between reigning champions India and Japan.

UNI