Uthappa's last-minute goal earns India 2-1 win over South Korea
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The match winning goal came in the final minute of the game when Uthappa deflected the ball in Tushan Khandekar's cross.
On a counter-attack
built by goalkeeper Bharat Chetri's save at the top of circle on the
other end, India surprised the South Korean defenders with a brisk move
that proved crucial after India had conceded an equaliser in the 66th
minute.
Penalty corner
striker Sandeep Singh sent a drag-flick into the net in the 11th minute
to give India the lead that they enjoyed until Nam Hyun-Woo's low
penalty corner flick breached the Indian defence in the 66th minute.
The victory gave
India their initial three points from two outings after the 1-5 loss to
New Zealand, while South Korea has just one point from two outings.
India
produced a much improved display after yesterday's lacklustre show
against New Zealand, managing to close the gaps in their defence.
Tight marking by both teams ensured that action was mostly confined to the midfield.
Right-half
Gurbaj Singh made a return to international hockey after a long gap due
to injury that kept him out of the Olympic Qualifiers and the London test event.
India
broke through the man-to-man marking to earn their first penalty corner
in the 11th minute, which was converted by Sandeep who placed a rising
drag-flick high into the net to give India the lead.
South Korea banked on quick counter attacks, but found India defending well.
Indian striker Dharamvir Singh had a shy at the goal from the top of the circle in the 28th minute that was blocked by goalkeeper Lee Myung-Ho, who was again in action four minutes later when he had to defend a firm drive from Tushar Khandekar.
Indian striker Dharamvir Singh had a shy at the goal from the top of the circle in the 28th minute that was blocked by goalkeeper Lee Myung-Ho, who was again in action four minutes later when he had to defend a firm drive from Tushar Khandekar.
The
Koreans forced their first penalty corner in the 34th minute, but Jang
Jong-Hyun's shot was palmed away by goalkeeper Bharat Chetri.
The
Koreans came back strongly in the second session, forcing two penalty
corners in five minutes, and nearly got the equaliser in the 38th minute
when a shot by Seo Jong-Ho beat the Indian defence, but rebounded into
play after hitting the cross-piece.
The next penalty corner shot two minutes later was easily saved by the Indian custodian.
India
again posed danger to the South Korean goal in the 47th minute on a
brisk breakaway that saw Tushar Khandekar and Shivendra Singh move up in
combination, but the goalkeeper charged out to deflect Khandekar's
cross from going toward Shivendra Singh.
The
Koreans increased the intensity of their attacks in the last 10 minute,
but saw unmarked Lee Nam-Yong send an aimless shot high over the goal,
but managed to draw 1-1 parity through Nam Hyun-Woo's penalty corner
shot that went in off Manpreet Singh's stick.
The
Koreans once again threatened to score a goal in the 69th minute when
Jang Jong-Hyun was thwarted from darting into the scoring zone by
Chetri, who charged out to make the save and shaped the counter-attack
that produced the winning goal.
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