Men's Hockey Asia Cup: Profligate India held to 2-2 draw by Korea

The Indian men's hockey team began the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup with a 2-2 draw against South Korea on Wednesday in Rajgir, Bihar.

It was a disappointing result for India, particularly given that they had the territorial advantage throughout the game. They made 23 circle entries, but only managed to get seven shots away in open play. They also converted none of the six penalty corners they won on the night. However, it must be said that the bulk of the seven shots India took should have finished with the ball in the back of the net. Sukhjeet Singh and Abhishek, normally India's best forwards, missed a host of straightforward chances from close range in the second half.

Earlier, the start of the match was delayed by 50 minutes after heavy rains meant that the pitch was waterlogged, and not fit for play to happen. Soon after the game began, Hardik Singh lit Rajgir up with one of the best solo goals you'll see. He picked up the ball on the halfway line and carried forward past a host of Korean defenders, before calmly slotting a finish into the bottom corner.

At the end of the first quarter, though, India disintegrated defensively. First an intentional push from Jugraj Singh led to a penalty stroke with which Korea scored. And then a couple of minutes later, Mandeep Singh was adjudged to have deliberately got his foot in the way of a ball just outside the circle, and Korea scored from the resulting penalty corner as well.

India were poor for the rest of the first half, with only Jarmanpreet Singh threatened the Korean goal. After half-time, India attacked with regularity, but were still not able to threaten the goalkeeper often enough. Sukhjeet missed a sitter first, after being set up by an excellent pass from Manpreet Singh. Sukhjeet put the shot wide, when one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Then Hardik slipped Abhishek through down the right, and despite having acres of space and plenty of time, Abhishek dragged his shot wide. A couple of minutes later, Abhishek took way too much time again, and saw his shot closed down by the Korean defence.

Harmanpreet, Jugraj and Amit Rohidas all tried from penalty corners but none of them succeeded. When hope was beginning to flicker away, Mandeep got the goal for India in the 54th minute, with an easy tap-in at the far-post, after excellent work from Sukhjeet in the circle.

India play Malaysia on Thursday evening, and will look to ease their path through to the final with a win against them. .

You can follow all the action from the game right here: