Korea beat India 2-0.

KOREA : Seung-Tae Song (28 min), Keon-Wook Kang (42 min)

INDIA : 4 penalty corners, 0 converted
KOREA : 3 penalty corners, 0 converted

Korea was under more pressure than India coming into this game. Korea had drawn its first two matches. India could, in the least, afford a draw, while Korea needed to win to stay in contention.

Since the Bangkok Asian Games win, India had never beat Korea. India lost 4-5 to Korea in the Asia Cup, 2-3 in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, 1-6 in the 4-Nation tournament in Australia, before ending up with a 1-1 draw in the same 4-Nation tournament. Even a draw would be a good achievement for India against the reigning Asia Cup senior and junior champions.

In the 28th minute, the Korean caught the Indian defence fast asleep with a switch of flanks. A shocking defensive lapse saw the speedy Korean forward Seung-Tae Song left completely alone and unmarked on top of the D. Song picked up the pass on his right, switched sides, and at full stretch, reverse hit into the goal before Indian goalkeeper Jude Menezes could spot the change of direction.

Within six minutes of resumption, the Koreans scored again, through Keon-Wook Kang. The Koreans launched another one of those wing to wing flank switching moves that found an unmarked Kang standing in clear space, within the Indian D, behind the back of skipper Ramandeep. The Indian captain, having a horrible game, did not seem to realise that there was an opponent behind him. The pass was unerring, as was the hit.

For India, Mukesh Kumar missed a chance in the 24th minute when he shot the ball straight into the goalkeeper, and then Dhillon scooped over the bar in the 33rd minute.

All the six teams have a mathematical chance of making it to the semi-finals. India needs to beat Spain and Poland (its last remaining opponents) to eliminate both of them from the tournament. Even after that, either Korea or Australia have to stumble to ensure India a passage to the semi-finals.

Spain will be coming off a tough match against Australia, just as India had to contend with Korea. The fatigue factor, if any, is applicable for both teams. India has no option but to beat Spain, currently the last placed team in the pool.

On Friday, four Pool B teams will be on the pitch, with India taking on Spain and Australia playing Argentina. By the end of the day, two teams will find themselves out of a place in the last four. One hopes and prays that India is not among the two that get eliminated.