India vs South Korea Highlights, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 Super4s: IND 2 – 2 KOR; Mandeep goal ensures draw
India vs South Korea Highlights, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 Super4s: IND 2 – 2 KOR; Mandeep goal ensures draw
That’s all from India’s first fixture of its Super 4s campaign at the men’s Asia Cup in Rajgir. Mandeep’s second-half strike helps a wasteful India to share the spoils in this match against the South Koreans.
Sukhjeet on the half-volley there, after bringing a long ball, and smashes it first time but the attempt whistles past the upright of the goal.
Penalty corner for Korea. Harmanpreet is unhappy there. Nothing comes from that and India tries to counter but it’s blocked. Still, the host has the ball.
A penalty corner for India. Hardik injects and it looks like it was Amit Rohidas’ drag-flick which whizzed past the goal. However, the umpires are looking at something. India loses the review and it’s a free hit for the Koreans.
Mandeep has an empty goal to put the ball into and he does just that! Sukhjeet with the assist as he finds Mandeep at the far corner, and the player just has to tap it in. No chance there for the Korean ‘keeper to keep that out!
Another shot! Another save! Mandeep with a brilliant solo effort but Korea ‘keeper Jaehan Kim with an equally brilliant save.
Another penalty corner for India. Hardik injects, Jugraj drag-flicks and the player smacks it into the body of Korea’s first-rusher.
Suraj Karkera is the ‘keeper for India in these final 15 minutes and right away, Sukhjeet squares it to Abhishek, who once again misses the shot. Too many chances are being squandered by the host.
A penalty corner and Harmanpreet’s drag-flick is blocked well by Jinkang Rim and that brings the end of the third quarter.
Abhishek has his face in his hands! Another chance goes begging! Hardik finds the forward inside the D, no one marking him, and Abhishek shoots it across and wide. These chances can very well come back to bite the host.
Chance! What a chance! Sukhjeet had the whole goal gaping wide open with only the goalkeeper waiting to beaten! And the Indian player tries to pass it to the far corner of the goal and the ball rolls past the target. Abhishek was also an option there and the forward could have been passed to but Sukhjeet ended up fluffing his chance.
The Koreans don’t seem to be in a hurry, although they just have a one-goal lead. The visitors are trying to pass it around and build from the back as the Indians continue to enjoy much of the ball, obviously the more eager group to find the next goal in the match.
A review for a penalty corner is going on! And that’s not a PC for South Korea as its review bears no fruit.
Abhishek has the chance to slot the ball into the back of the goal from point-blank range but the Korean ‘keeper comes off his line to make himself big and make the Indian forward’s angle tougher.
Plenty of time for India to stage a comeback and get back into the thick of things!
There goes the whistle for the end of Q2. A solid chance for Harmanpreet to level the game but he couldn’t get the contact he was looking for. Work to do for Fulton’s team.
A period of Korea possession with just a minute to play in Quarter 2. An attempt to run into the circle from the right flank for Korea but the defence clears.
Abhishek unable to take a pass along the left flank in his stride. Bounces away behind goal.
A spell of possession for team India. Dangerous ball played into the circle, Jarmanpreet has a shot from the edge of the circle, but is kept out by the keeper’s pads.
Green card shown to Harmanpreet following a dangerous play after running towards a Korean attacker waiting for a high ball. 2 minute suspension.
Manpreet plays the ball in to Mandeep at the edge of the circle but the forward has no space to progress.
Abhishek with good work on the right flank to get into the circle and find space. Hits the back stick and the attack fizzes out.
Dain Son cops a blow on his feet as Harmanpreet looks to force one into the circle. An attempted shot from close quarters for Harman but the defender manages to get a stick in between the Indian skipper and the goal.
India with some work to do in the second quarter.
India trails at the end of the first quarter following two quick goals for the defending champion.
India concedes another penalty corner. Mandeep the guilty party, adjudged to have deliberately made contact with his feet.
Goal!! Hyeonhong Kim strikes it into the top right of the goal to give Korea the lead.
IND 1 – 2 KOR
Jihun Yang steps up and smacks the penalty stroke into the top of the goal to bring Korea level.
IND 1 – 1 KOR
Min Su Cheon plays a low ball into the circle and the umpire blows for a foul on the Korean striker. The Video umpire calls for a Penalty Stroke for Jugraj’s push!
South Korea showing some more attacking intent after the opening goal. India manages to stifle the foray and regains possession.
Sukhjeet steals the ball in the midfield and plays in Hardik who dribbles past the defender expertly and pushes it into the bottom right corner!
IND 1 – 0 KOR
India gets another PC after the ball hits the foot of the first rusher. Another block on Harmanpreet’s shot.
India earns a penalty corner after some smart work from Abhishek in the circle. Manages to wriggle his way past two defenders and pick up a leg touch.
Harmanpreet’s shot is blocked by the first rusher.
A lobbed pass helps Jongsuk Bare progress deep into the Indian half but the defence manages to wrest control of the ball.
Sukhjeet looks to wrestle the ball away high up the pitch, but the whistle blows for a foul. A tepid start to the game so far.
Penalty Corner for India after the ball strikes the foot of a Korean defender. India goes for a variation in the shot but can conjure up a chance at goal.
Harmanpreet plays a long pass into the circle, and the ball ricochets off the post!! Caught out the Korean goalkeeper there.
India maintains possession early. Rohidas looks to fire one into the circle from the right flank but there are no takers.
India gets us underway in the Super4s encounter after a 53-minute rain delay!
Just a short delay this time. The players are back on the field. Saikat says there are a few puddles on India’s left flank.
The players are warming up on the turf with two minutes to go. The drizzle has intensified in the background. The fans are trying to cover themselves in the stands.
And there go the players back to the dugout!
Match to resume at 8:20 pm IST.
The volunteers are pushing the built-up water away from the turf. Saikat says the match should get underway soon. The players are making their way out.
Saikat says the rain has relented and we are not far off from the match start.
Image – RV Moorthy/ The Hindu
The drizzle has intensified into a strong downpour and the players are making their way into the dugout.
Our reporter on the ground, Saikat Chakraborty, says there is a possibility of lightning and hence the game has been delayed.
“Up against the defending champion. Korea is a good team. Likely to play half-court and counter. We have to be good on the ball.”
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Jaehan Kim (C), Jihun Yang, Cheoleon Park, Jinkang Rim, Jungjun Lee (C), Jongsuk Bae, Seyong Oh, Jaewon Sim, Sunghyun baek, Soung min Bae, Hyeseung Lee
Krishan Pathak (GK), Sanjay, Amit Rohidas, Harmanpreet Singh (C), Sumit, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Rajinder Singh, Mandeep Singh, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh
A 15-0 demolition of Kazakhstan notwithstanding, the Indian men would be aware that the real challenge to their dreams of winning the hockey Asia Cup and qualifying for the World Cup begins on Wednesday.
India will take on defending champion Korea in its first Super 4s match, and regardless of the difference in current world rankings of the two sides – India is seventh to Korea’s 15th – the host would be aware of the pitfalls of taking its opponent either too seriously or too lightly.
The two teams have also had contrasting routes to the next stage of the competition. India had to fight hard for its first two wins before a breezy outing to top the pool while Korea’s results have been convincingly one-sided – whether in victory or defeat (to Malaysia).
– Uthra Ganesan
The India vs South Korea Hockey Asia Cup 2025 match will be telecast live on Sony TEN 1 and Sony TEN 1 HD TV channels in India. The match will also be live-streamed on the SonyLiv app and website.
Welcome to the live coverage of the Hockey Asia Cup 2025 Super4s encounter between India and South Korea in Rajgir. Stay tuned for all updates and scores from the game at the Bihar Sports University Hockey Stadium.
Published on Sep 03, 2025
