That's it from us here - this is Subhashish signing off - do join at 2025 IST today when Malaysia take on Pakistan. Good night, and stay with Sportskeeda for the latest news and updates
HARMANPREET SINGH WAS CLINICAL AS EVER - GETS HIS HATTRICK AND THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH AWARD - THE INDIANS WERE ON THE RAMPAGE IN THE FIRST QUARTER SCORING TWO QUICK GOALS, BUT, IN THE 20TH MINUTE, LEE SEUNGIL BEAT SREEJESH WHO, WAS NOT POSITIONED APPROPRIATELY TO EFFECT A SAVE. THE GOAL EFFECTIVELY PUT A BRAKE ON THE INDIAN STRIKERS, WHO WERE FORCED TO FALL BACK AND TIGHTEN THE MIDFIELD AS THE KOREANS TOILED HARD FOR AN EQUALIZER. THE INDIAN DEFENCE WAS PUT TO THE TEST TODAY, AND DID WELL TO KEEP THE MARAUDING KOREANS AT BAY
A THREE-GOAL DIFFERENCE IN THE END - BUT THE CONTEST WAS A LOT CLOSER THAN EXPECTED, AND ALSO A LOT CLOSER THAN WHAT THE SCORELINE REFLECTS - THE KOREANS MAY WELL FEEL A BIT HARD DONE BY, AS THEY HAD A GOAL DISALLOWED, SINCE, IN THE OPINION, OF THE VIDEO UMPIRE, THE BALL HAD NOT TRAVELLED FIVE METERS BEFORE THE FREE HIT HAD BEEN TAKEN.
ALSO, A PC WAS AWARDED TO INDIA IN THE 47TH MINUTE, ALTHOUGH THE BALL DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE HIT A KOREAN FOOT - THE INDIANS WERE STRETCHED FOR SURE - BUT COME AWAY VICTORS IN THEIR LAST POOL MATCH AND WILL FINISH AT THE TOP OF THE HEAP FOR SURE
58' Time running out for the Koreans - but they keep pressing - from the left flank now - India want a PC at the other end - the Koreans have taken their goalie off
THE INDIANS HAD A LUCKY ESCAPE - KIM SEONGKU GOT THE BALL INTO THE KOREAN GOAL BUT THE VIDEO UMPIRE RULED THAT THE BALL HAD NOT TRAVELLED 5 METERS BEFORE THE FREE HIT WAS TAKEN - INDIA HANGING ON TO A ONE-GOAL LEAD - WHO WILL HAVE THE LAST LAUGH??
THE GOAL DOES NOT STAND - IN THE OPINION OF THE REFEREE, THE BALL HAD NOT TRAVELLED FIVE METERS BEFORE THE FREE HIT WAS TAKEN- LUCKY ESCAPE FOR THE INDIANS- Kim Seongkyu's goal disallowed
PRETTY EVEN-STEVENS HERE - THE INDIANS HAD 53% POSSESSION IN THE KOREAN HALF - FOUR SHOTS ON GOAL FOR INDIA - THREE FOR KOREA - WHAT WILL HARENDRA'S CHARGERS DO IN THE SECOND HALF??
THE INDIANS SCORED TWICE, BUT JUST BEFORE THE FLOODGATES COULD OPEN, KOREAN CAPTAIN LEE SEUNGIL BEAT SREEJESH WHO LOOKED A WEE-BIT UNPREPARED AS THE SHOT CAME IN - AS A RESULT, THE INDIANS WERE FORCED TO FALL BACK AND KEEP THINGS TIGHT AS KOREA PRESSED HARD FOR THE EQUALIZER
28' The Koreans pressing high now - the Indians defending hard - have a chance to counter but the move is foiled by the Koreans who retreat in the nick of time
The Indian strikers running amok in the Korean circle here - seven circle entries for Harendra's boys - Harmanpreet at his very best with the only PC that India earned - Gurjant uses the backhand reverse to increase the tally - how many more can they score??