India beat South Korea 3-2 to maintain dominant run
Already through to the semifinals, hosts India maintained their dominance in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament with a nervy 3-2 victory over South Korea in their fourth round-robin fixture in Chennai on Monday.
With 10 points from three wins and one draw, India are on top the league table. They had already qualified for the semifinals before the match.
Nilakanta Sharma put India in lead with his sixth-minute strike. Sharma was at the right place as he put the ball into the Korea net after Sukhjeet, having received the ball from Sumit Shamsher Singh, dribbled past two defenders and passed it to the scorer.
India's joy was short-lived as the Koreans came back with the equaliser barely six minutes later, Kim Sunghyun driving the ball past home team goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak, who was playing in his 100th international game.
The assist was provided by Manjae Jung.
India, however, regained their lead as Harmanpreet Singh struck off a penalty corner in the 23rd minute, hitting it low to the right of the keeper much to the joy of the spectators present at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium.
Mandeep Singh made it 3-1 with his 33rd minute strike, consolidating India's position in the match.
Yang Jihun pulled one back for Korea in the 58th minute but India held on to the lead in the final two minutes.
Pakistan remain in semifinal race with 2-1 win over China
Goals from Muhammad Khan and Afraz helped Pakistan eke out a 2-1 victory over China to stay in the race for the semifinals in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament.
However, the defeat meant that China were knocked out of contention for the last-four stage.
The opening quarter happened to be a quiet one in terms of goal-scoring activities.
Pakistan earned a couple of penalty corners but failed to convert them. It was followed by a field goal chance from both sides, but to no avail, as it was goalless at the end of the first quarter.
Five minutes into the second quarter, Pakistan earned a penalty corner and Muhammad Khan successfully converted it to give his side the lead.
While China challenged the goal through video referral for dangerous height, the TV umpire ruled it in favour of Pakistan.
After a couple of more chances for Pakistan, including a penalty corner, it led 1-0 at the half-time break.
Two minutes following the restart, China showed some urgency and earned a penalty corner in the process, which was converted into a goal by Jiesheng Gao to draw level.
At this time, Pakistan's Ahtisham Aslam received a yellow card, while Abdul Rehman was green-carded.
Nevertheless, in the 39th minute, Pakistan restored their lead, thanks to some passing game through skipper Umar Bhutta and Abdul Rana before Afraz angled it into the goal.
With Pakistan up 2-1 at the end of the third quarter, China upped their ante and switched to more possession and passing, while Pakistan began to press high.
But the tactics didn't seem to work for the Chinese, as the Pakistanis managed to hold on to the slender lead to take home the three points at full-time.
Pakistan take on hosts and arch-rivals India on Wednesday in a potentially high-voltage match, while China face Japan in their last fixture.
Malaysia beat Japan, keep semifinal hopes alive
Malaysia fought off a late surge from Japan to secure a 3-1 win and keep their semifinal hopes alive in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Chennai on Monday.
Najmi Jazlan (13th minute, penalty corner), Ashran Hamsani (37th) and Shello Silverius (59th) struck for Malaysia.
After a flurry of missed chances, Japan finally managed to strike through Niwa Takuma (59th).
The win took Malaysia to nine points after three wins and one loss.
Coming off from a 0-5 thrashing at the hands of India, Malaysia took the lead in the first quarter through when Jazlan's drag-flick.
Jazlan's shot struck the shin of the first rusher before hitting the net and the goal was awarded after a referral.
Japan, who had held Pakistan to a 3-3 draw, came close to scoring the equaliser on a few occasions but failed to give the finishing touches. They also wasted several penalty corners.
Against the run of play, Malaysia doubled the lead as Hamsani fired the ball into the net after being brilliantly set up by Fitri Saari.
Silverius made it 3-0 in the final minute after being set up Hamsani at the far post.
Silverius took a couple of touches to deceive the keeper before striking the ball into the net.
Moments later, Takuma struck Japan's first goal but it was too little too late.
