Full Time! And with that, we come to the end of the match, which promised a lot, flattered to deceive, only to bring up some excitement in the end! At the end of the day, both the title favourites have managed to come out with a point each in this match. Malaysia have taken the lead at the top of the Super 4 table, after their 3-2 win against Pakistan, while South Korea and India have taken the second and third spots, with one point each. Their last two games become all the more important for both the sides.
60' - GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What Drama here! Gurjant Singh manages to get the all-important equaliser for India. Gurjant pulled the trigger from inside the circle, as Akashdeep tried to deflect it in. However, his shot was blocked by a couple of sticks, just off the line, but Gurjant was alert to the opportunity, as he got back on the ball, and slotted it into the net.
59' - India finally get a PC as the make a circle entry from the left, but Korea immediately review that decision. The PC has been awarded for a possible stick-check. The video umpire rules that the Indian player was blocking the ball, and Korea get a free hit.
58' - Chinglensana fizzes it into the circle from the left, and takes a couple of deflections. The umpire points for a long corner, but India review the decision immediately, looking for a Penalty Corner. The TV umpire could not come to a conclusion, so India keep the referral, but do not get the decision.
56' - Akashdeep plays and exchange of passes with Lalit,, switches to the left, and puls the trigger, but it is accurately blocked by a Korean stick, as they clear it out of their area.
50' - Lalit gets in a good tackle inside the India circle, and starts the counter attack, but they slow down the momentum again, allowing the Koreans to get back in position. India need to make these turnovers in possession count, if they want to breach this stubborn Korean defence.
50' - Korea have well and truly parked the bus here, we can see a lot of long balls from them, as India look to press them while not in possession, and launch their attacks.
End of 3rd Quarter! With that last bit of action, we come to the end of Q3, where Korea, against the run of play, have managed to get the opening goal of the match. India have kept 60% possession, and have made 14 circle penetrations, but have failed to breach the Korea defence.
15' - Satbir enters the Korea circle with great pace, and passes to lalit, who pulls the trigger, but his shot is blocked among a flurry of Korean sticks.
43' - Ramandeep wins a free hit near the circle, and immediately tries to start play and dribble past a couple of defenders, but he was tackled just outside the circle, and the chance is foiled.
41' - GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!! The deadlock has finally been broken, as Lee Jungjun taps it into the net. Korea, on the counter, managed to get into the box, where Lee received the pass under some pressure, but he did well to turn and tap it deftly into the net. 1-0Korea!
40' - India have gotten more impetus in this half, and seem to have laid a siege on the Korea circle. But the Korea defence is up to their task, as Rohidas fizzes it in from the right to Akaashdeep, who was unmarked in a dangerous position inside the box. However, his pass had too much power, and it goes past everyone.
37' - Lalit tries to launch a counter attack, and passes to Ramandeep, who tries to play Akashdeep through, but his pass is wayward and Korea get back on the ball.
33' - Sunil produces some magical touch in the middle of the park, negotiating challenges from two Korean defenders, and passes it to Varun. However, seeing the lack of space, Varun plays a back pass, and the pace goes out of that attack again.
Half Time! It has been a rather frustrating half for both sets of attackers, today. India have had the main impetus in attack, keeping long bouts of possession, but the Korea defence has stood firm so far. The game has been tight, much unlike India's previous games, which is, in a way, expected, as these are the two primary title rivals, facing each other, today.
28' - Korea get a free hit just outside the India circle, as Lee squares it. However, Korea's attack is soon foiled by Lalit, who immediately passes it to Akashdeep, to launch the counter. However, India's attack is also soon foiled, as Korea get back the ball. It has been a rather frustrating game for both sets of attackers.
25' - Akashdeep receives a through ball from Manpreet, on the right, and crosses it in to Lalit in the circle, but the pass was intercepted by the Korea keeper kicked it away.
23' - Lalit gets the ball from Sardar on the right flank, and crosses it in, but nobody got a touch to the ball inside the circle, as it rolls out of play.
21' - Chinglensana zips it into the circle, where Ramandeep latched onto the ball, abd pulled the trigger, but his shot was straight at Akashdeep's foot. Free hit, Korea.
18' - Sunil breaks down the right, passes to Chinglensana, who passes it back to him. However, the Korea defenders managed to recover their position by then, and the counter attack opportunity is foiled.
16' - Korea get the proceedings underway, as they look to keep possession now. The game does not seem to have opened up in Q2 either, as both the sides look to create proper chances.
End of 1st Quarter! And with that PC, we come to the end of the first quarter. Korea have done well to keep India at bay in Q1, but it has been a very tight start to this game, here. Let's see if the game opens up in Q2.
15' - Penalty Corner for India! Manpreet receives the ball and tries to play it back to Ramandeep, but Korea read that move, and cut out the pass immediately.
14' - India finally seem to have found some momentum, but the Korean defence seems to be well organised. India have not been able to create any major chances so far.
14' - India finally seem to have found some momentum, but the Korean defence seems to be well organised. India have not been able to create any major chances so far.
10' - Jung Pyok got onto the ball at the edge of the circle, dribbled past a defender, and pulled the trigger, but his shot was stopped by the Indian keeper.
8' - Korea are giving India some of their own medicine, passing it around their back line, and moving forward from there. In the end, Kang pulled the trigger from inside the circle, but his shot was foiled.
6' - India are looking to build their play out of the back, but Korea seem well-prepared for the Indians, but the Koreans are putting good pressure on the Indians, as they look to foil their attacks.
1' - And we're off, as India get the proceedings underway. They immediately get on to their tactic of keeping possession, as they play it out from the back.
Big news coming in from the Indian camp! Sardar Singh is not in the starting XI! He has been brilliant this season, in his new-found position at the heart of the defence.
India are all set to take on South Korea in their first match of the second round, or the Super 4 stage of the Hockey Asia Cup 2017, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Wednesday.
The Indians have been on rampant form in the tournament, steamrolling the likes of Japan and Bangladesh, while also earning a comprehensive 3-1 victory over arch rivals Pakistan in the group stage of the tournament.
The Indians have played some exquisite hockey in the group stage, netting as many as 15 goals in three matches. However, their defence leaked a few goals, as Bangladesh is the only team against whom they have kept a clean sheet against so far.
There have been a few further problems with their penalty corner conversion rate, which has been lower than usual, in this tournament.
That apart, however, India have been on rampant form, demolishing opposition defences in the in this tournament, so far. Forward Akashdeep Singh has been on top form, ably supported by Ramandeep Singh and Lalit Upadhyay, while the midfield has been ably handled by the likes of Chinglensana and captain Manpreet, who has been excellent in the absence of regular skipper PR Sreejesh.
However, the defence has been a revelation this tournament, with the iconic Sardar Singh being pushed back to the backline, from where he plays accurate passes out to the forwards and the midfield. He essentially plays the role of a point-guard in basketball, while India are in possession, while dropping back into defence during turnovers.
South Korea have not been on as good a form as expected of them, as they have conceded five goals in their last three matches. They also lost 2-1 at the hands of Malaysia, a match they were expected to win.
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