19 October,2017 09:41 AM IST | Dhaka | Sundeep Misra
Striker scores late goal to help Men in Blue eke out 1-1 draw against Korea
Faced with a team with plenty of attacking options, South Korea did what they could in the circumstances. The Koreans, defending champions in the Asia Cup, bottled up India, took the lead in the third quarter and then waged a defensive battle that India won following Gurjant Singh's equaliser in the last minute to carve out a 1-1 draw and remain in the fight for a place in the Asia Cup final.
Indian players celebrate a goal against South Korea in an Asia Cup Super 4 encounter yesterday. The Men in Blue are unbeaten in the tournament
It was a tactical battle fought over four quarters, but with massive intensity in the first and second. India had their chances, a one-to-one situation with the goalkeeper which Akashdeep Singh muffed and then a penalty corner that was intercepted by the Koreans. It continued India's pathetic penalty corner conversions in the tournament. Korea didn't have many except a couple of strikes in the first quarter which Akash Chikte saved.
In such matches where margins are razor thin only an error could have given a goal either side. It came in the third quarter, when Varun made an error of judging a hit from outside the striking circle and Korea's Lee Jungjun pounced and put it past goalkeeper Suraj Karkera.
At 1-0, it was obvious that Korea would bolt the doors shut. In they went into their defensive structure as India tried to find a way in. Just when it seemed that India would lose out on three points, in a goal mouth skirmish, Gurjant Singh flicked it past a fallen Korean goalkeeper. At 1-1, India had a point in the bag and two matches -- Malaysia and Pakistan to follow. Two wins and they would be in the Asia Cup final. Yet, a path that needs to be walked upon and won.
