Korea vs India being played in the 20th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup – Mid-match Analysis
The Indian hockey team is currently facing-off against the Koreans in the second match of the 20th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, taking place at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh, Malaysia today. The tournament comprises a total of seven nations of the World’s top rankings.
In the first half half, the Indian team opened up in good form and dominated the field with their ball possession. Within the first three minutes of the match, India was found attacking in the Korean defensive circle. However, the Korean defenders took control of the ball and cleared it out of the circle.
In the 7th minute, Korea took possession and earned their first penalty corner but the ball went wide and the Indian defenders, including captain Arjun Halappa, cleared the ball out of the circle.
India was again rushed into the defensive half-side of Korea but failed to make it into the circle. The match went scoreless in the opening 20 minutes of the match.
At the 20th minute mark, India received their first penalty corner award of the game that was cleverly converted by Diwakar Ram, opening the scoreboard at 1-0.
In the next four minutes, Korea managed to receive their second penalty corner award that again went wide from the goal post. The Korean team started to argue and walked off the field when the referee whistled in order to continue the match.
The team returned back to the ground and continued to play the match. In the 27th minute, India’s Danish Mujtaba scores a shot past the Korean goal-keeper, advancing the lead to 2-0.
It took no longer than four minutes for Korea to answer-back to India with a goal shot by Cho Suk Hoon which went past the Indian goal-keeper Bharat Kumar Chatri. In the next couple of minutes, Korea again attempted an attack that was fouled and Korea earned its third penalty corner award in the 33rd minute but it was well saved by Chatri.
In the closing two minutes of the match, Korea did not lose hope, receiving their fourth penalty corner award. They tried hard to convert it but the Indian defence stood firm and let the time pass-by.
The first half of the match closed at 2-1, with India in the lead. Currently, the second half has started as both teams struggle for dominance of the hockey ground.
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