South Korea hand India third loss, Pakistan pip Malaysia

South Korea hand India third loss, Pakistan pip Malaysia
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

KUALA LUMPUR, FEBRUARY 21: India crashed to their third defeat by going down 1-2 to Korea while reigning champions Pakistan ended Malaysia's amazing winning streak by edging them 3-2 in the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament Monday.

Asian Games champions India squandered chances galore as Korea went ahead in the 25th minute through Seung Hwan's penalty corner conversion and consolidated it through another penalty corner goal by Yeo Woon Kon in the 42nd minute.

Forward Baljit Dhillon reduced the margin in the 53rd minute but India paid for their profligacy, squandering nine open chances and three penalty corners to lie fifth overall.

Earlier, Pakistan took a 2-0 lead but Malaysia, seeking their fourth straight victory, rode on the support of a capacity crowd of 15,000 and struck twice in the space of two minutes to draw level in the 60th minute.But a penalty stroke three minutes later put paid to the fight back as Pakistan as expected used speed during counter attacks to good effect and controlled thegame better.

This result lifted Korea to the top of the table with Pakistan and Malaysia behind them in that order.

Imran Yousuf (fifth, 63rd) and Kamran Ashraf (13th) scored for Pakistan while Chua Boon Huat (58th) and Kuhan Shanmuganathan (60th) found the mark for Malaysia. But the Malaysians still have a chance to make the finals as they take on India and Korea in their final league matches.

Pakistan's first goal came in the fifth minute when they earned their first penalty corner. Instead of the normal hit, Imran Yousuf flicked the ball high past Nasihin under the Malaysian bar.

In the 13th minute, Kamran Ashraf unleashed a shot. The ball deflected off a Malaysian defenders stick and sailed to the top of the net.