S Korea hold India

SYDNEY, SEPT 25: India withstood a barrage of shots late in the match, but failed to score themselves in a goalless draw against South Ko...

SYDNEY, SEPT 25: India withstood a barrage of shots late in the match, but failed to score themselves in a goalless draw against South Korea to be consigned to a third-place playoff in the Sydney challenge Four-Nation Men’s Hockey Tournament here today.

India put up a fighting display in the second leg of the tournament, but were left to take on Canada tomorrow at the Homebush Stadium after Korea edged them out on a solitary goal advantage.

In the final, Australia will meet Korea, who managed to hold on for the draw after India botched a last-gasp penalty corner.

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The tired Indian defence almost conceded a goal as Korea dominated the last 15 minutes, but India had the final chance at victory when they forced their lone penalty corner. But they failed to trap the ball at the top of the circle.

The Indians contravened tournament regulations by heading straight to the dressing rooms where they remained for 20 minutes, ignoring organisers’ requests for them to exit from the end of the field and speakbriefly to the press.

Korea had nine penalty corners and after 13 minutes firced goalkeeper Edward Aloysius to produced a great reflex save off a deflection. A minute later a long ball found Yong-Bae Kim but his deflection hit the right post.

“We give ourselves a 50-50 chance of beating Australia tomorrow,” Korean coach Hwang Jong said. With two Indian players once again receiving temporary suspensions, it was a trying afternoon for the team desperate to climb back into the elite of men’s hockey.