India go down fighting to Korea

England and Korea made sure of berths in Sunday's play-off for first and second places in the first women’s Champions Challenge hockey tournament, being played at Randburg, South Africa.

In Wednesday's opening match, England scored twice in the first-half to easily beat the United States 2-0.

Melanie Clewlow opened England's account with a penalty-corner strike in the second minute and then five minutes later, captain Sarah Blanks made it 2-0.

The second match of the evening was, however, a thriller as India and Korea battled it out for a place in Sunday's final.

Korea started the match in their usual dynamic fashion and opened the scoring in the fifth minute through a very well-taken penalty-corner that saw Lee Soen Ok find the back of the net after a double dummy.

To their credit, India did not take long to respond and Mamta Kharab equalized in the 10th minute through a well-worked field goal that spread the Korean defence.

With both teams well matched, the score was deadlocked 1-1 at the interval. But just two minutes after the resumption, it was India who surprised Korea, when Sunita Kullu started off an attack inside her own half and finished it off with a superbly taken goal that saw her slip the ball in behind Korean goalkeeper Park Young Sook to put India 2-1 ahead.

And after that it was always going to be catch up time for Korea.

With the Koreans pressing, India's defence was stretched and they conceded a penalty-stroke. Kim Eun Jin was on target as the Koreans levelled 2-2.

And then with just seven minutes remaining, Korean captain Lee Eun Young scored the winner to make the final score 3-2 and see Korea into Sunday’s final against England.

The day’s final match was completely lopsided, with South Africa trouncing a hapless Russia 8-2. But for the home side it was all too late and the best South Africa can hope for is a berth in Sunday's play-off for third and fourth places.

For the home side, both Carina Van Zyl and Pietie Coetzee scored two goals each while Natalia Kravtchenko and Tatania Vassioukova scored for Russia.

After four matches, England have 10 points, from three victories and a draw against India, while Korea have nine, from three wins and a defeat against Engand.

India are in third place with five points, from one win and two draws. The defeat against Korea was their first in the tournament.

They play Russia in their concluding match and even a victory will not be enough to displace Korea.

The United States also have five points while South Africa have four. Rusia lost all their four matches.

Earlier reports

US deny India full points with late goal
Indian eves scrape past South Africa
India rally to hold England