Asian champions Korea swept to a 4-2 win against Pakistan and joined hosts Malaysia in the semi-finals of the 16th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup eight-nation hockey tournament in Ipoh on Wednesday.
Korea completed their group B league engagements with six points and finished second behind Malaysia (7). Pakistan, bronze medallists at the 2006 Asian Games, were placed third with four points, while winless Canada came in last.
The match was a continuation of Monday's tie that was abandoned after 27 minutes of the first-half following a power failure with the teams tied 2-2.
In the remaining 43 minutes today, the Koreans totally outplayed the Pakistanis who were more intent on forcing a draw that would have taken them to the semi-finals.
The negative approach boomeranged on Pakistan as the Koreans, despite wasting a penalty stroke, won in a canter, never easing up on the pressure that was reflected in the six penalty corners they forced.
Korea forced a penalty stroke in the very second minute, but goalkeeper Salman Akbar easily blocked a rather weak attempt by Kim Chul. Thereafter, the Koreans stepped up the pace and earned a series of penalty corners the fifth of which Jeong Yun Sang brought to account for his second goal of the match in the 47th minute.
Past the 61st, Hong Eun Seong, left unmarked on the far post, divered a loose ball inside the circle following a left-wing move to seal the issue for Korea.
On Monday, Tariq Aziz (4th) and Imran Muhammad (13th) had scored for Pakistan while the Korean goals had come from Kang Moon Kweon (9th) and Jeong Yun Sang (24th).
