sultan-azlan-shah-cup-2019-india-korea-updates-results-final

What a game of hockey we had this evening but unfortunately, for the Indian fans, their amazing unbeaten run finally came to an end with a loss in the penalty shootout in the final. India had a lead through Simranjeet Singh in the first quarter of the game and then they had a good dominance till the end of the third quarter.

However, things turned drastically in favour of the Koreans as they got a penalty stroke after Amit Rohidas' foul and that was converted easily. After the equaliser, the game went into the shootout where young Krishan Bahadur Pathak could save only one while India managed to score only on a couple of occasions.

That was the end of the prestigious tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia. And it was an amazing experience of bringing you all the live action for you. Until we meet next time, it's GOOD BYE and GOOD NIGHT from Chiranjibi Pati and Team SportsCafe.

That's all over. India fails in the shootout yet again and Korea are the Sultan Azlan Shah Champions.

A lead of 3-2 for Korea after four shootouts...

After the first three shootouts, it's 2-2 now.

After the first two shootouts, Korea is leading by 2-1.

After Sumit failed, Birendra Lakra scored for India...

Interesting : India is going with young Krishan Bahadur Pathak in the post and not veteran PR Sreejesh

As the regulation time ended with the scoreline reading 1-1 just like the league encounter. The Champions of the prestigious Sultan Azlan Shah Cup will be decided by the virtue of a shootout. This is gonna be fascinating to watch. Can India regain the title??? 

Remember in 2010, India and Korea had to share the trophy as rain had washed out the finale. Today it is different here at Stadium Azlan Shah.

SHOOTOUT COMING UP NEXT... DON'T GO TOO FAR AWAY!!!

FULLTIME!!!

The match goes into a shootout now!!! This will be really interesting. A test for PR Sreejesh as far as India is concerned.

Aaaannnddd, it goes wide... THAT'S A TERRIBLE MISS FOR INDIA!!! INDIA FAIL TO CONVERT WITH LAST FEW SECONDS REMAINING!!!

PC for India... Last two minutes to go in the game... Can they regain the lead???

Korea wants a PC here. They have gone upstairs!!! 

REVIEW UNSUCCESSFUL!!! India get a 16-yard hit now.

Another circle entry and India lose the ball again. Manpreet Singh had made that run into the Korean D but fails to capitalise at the last moment. This is going down to the wire. What a game for the neutrals!!! Indian fans would want to win though.

Last five minutes of the match and Birendra Lakra does well to save another scare for India. India, however, couldn't recover well during this counter-attack to fall back and defend in numbers.

WHAT A CHANCE FOR INDIA!!!

Simranjeet again!!! He enters the circle and gets a good cross from Mandeep. However, the deflection goes past the post and Korea get a 16-yard hit. These are tensed moments for both the teams.

Momentum with the Koreans at the moment after converting the stroke into a goal. India had the lead till the end of the third quarter. But, these are the moments that matter the most. 

India enter the Korean D and then Mandeep gets tackled there. Korea try to go on the counter but they lose possession at the sidelines. Will it go into the shootout??? That will be interesting. 

KOREA SCORES OFF THE STROKE!!! IT'S AN EQUALISER FOR THEM!!

Jang Jong Hyun makes no mistake in hitting it past Sreejesh. That's the goal Korea wanted. They are back in the game.

WHAT A START FOR KOREA IN THE LAST QUARTER!!! PENALTY STROKE AWARDED!!! INDIA WANT A REVIEW HERE!!

DECISION STAYS!!! EASY CHANCE FOR KOREA TO MAKE IT 1-1!!!

Rohidas lost the ball inside the D and then brought down a Korean forward. That's a sin by the Indian defender. 

End of the third quarter. So, it's time for the start of the most important passage of the entire tournament. LAST 15 MINUTES OF THE GAME!!!

Brilliant save by Sreejesh!!! A powerful shot by Korean striker is blocked well by "The Great Wall of India". SENSATIONAL!!!

Nothing much has happened in the penultimate quarter of the game and still a few moments to go before the start of the last and important quarter of the entire tournament. 

The Korean forward line finally takes an initiative of entering the Indian D. But, Surender Kumar does well to deny them from creating any kind of threat to Sreejesh and the Indian post. Good defending by the vice-captain.

Sumit penetrates into the Korean circle and takes a shot. It is straight at the keeper who finds it really easy to stop India from scoring.

Gurinder goes for two back-to-back powerful hits into the circle. The deflections on both the occasions, are off target. Indian midfielders are creating good opportunities but somehow, the Indian forwards haven't been that effective with their finishing skills this evening.

Another circle entry by India with vice-captain Surender Kumar right up there. However, he loses the ball and Korea start to build a fresh attack. They are still searching for an equaliser here.

Not much action in the second half so far as both the teams have become slightly defensive in their approach. 

MISSED!!!

The flick after the PC is off target for Korea. India gets a lucky reprieve here.

After India lost the ball in the Korean half, the opponents built an attack and have won a penalty corner now. First PC for Korea. Can Sreejesh save it???

Birendra Lakra snatches the ball from the Korean midfielder and India goes on another attack. They have been awarded a long corner here. Chance to create an opening.

We are back for the third quarter and Sreejesh is back at the Indian goal as well. Promises to be an action-packed last 30 minutes of the tournament here in Ipoh.

HT: 🇮🇳 1-0 🇰🇷

India continue to keep the lead at the end of first half as they hold the Korean forwards to a safe distance from the post! Will they strike again to strengthen the lead?

IND 1-0 KOR#IndiaKaGame #SultanAzlanShahCup2019 pic.twitter.com/GNQqQL4X4v

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) March 30, 2019

India with some attacking hockey are leading by a goal in the grand finale against the Koreans at the moment. Simranjeet Singh was the goal-scorer for India in the first quarter itself.

However, Korea had also got their chances but nothing has fallen in place for them so far. They might just play like the league game when they scored the equaliser at the last moment to deny India a win.

Can the Koreans bounce back in the next 30 minutes? It will be really exciting to wait and watch. We will come back in some time with the action from the third quarter. Do join us for all that and much more. 

A good attack by the Koreans and that marks the end of the second quarter. It's halftime!!!

Korea go on a counter. They have an opportunity to score the equaliser. And, Ji Woo fails to trap right in front of the Indian goal. Pathak was in some danger here.

A good interception by Birendra Lakra again. India gets the possession back and Simranjeet is released from the flank here. He makes another circle entry for India. There is a chance but goes in vain in the end. Simranjeet fails to trap the ball at the second post.

Unlike the first 15 minutes, India haven't created a lot of chances in the second one so far. Around three minutes to go in the first half and India would be satisfied going into the break with a one-goal lead at the moment. 

Korea has gone upstairs after India was awarded another PC after the third one.

REVIEW SUCCESFUL!!! Korea take the 16-yard hit to restart the game.

India waste their PC as Varun Kumar's flick is saved by the keeper. Oh, wait! India have been awarded another short corner here.

Another circle entry by India!!! And, they get a PC here. They have already wasted one. Can they score this time???

Around six minutes to go in the second quarter and India have slowed down their tempo a bit at the moment. 

After India lost the ball inside the striking circle of Korea, the opponents have started to counter-attack here. However, Amit Rohidas is right up there and wins the ball for India with an excellent tackle here.

Excellent interception by Manpreet Singh in the midfield. He passes the ball forward and India gets into the Korean D again.

India is looking the dominant team in the second quarter as well and Simranjeet is brilliant for the Men in Blue today. Can India continue with the lead or rather extend it before half-time???

SIMRANJEET FAILS TO SCORE HERE!!!

A chance for India in the initial passage of play in the second period. A close shave for the Korean custodian as the ball goes off his pads here. Simranjeet tried to go for a reverse and the shot was on target as well.

The second quarter begins with Krishan Pathak in the post now for India in place of veteran PR Sreejesh.

SAVE BY KOREA!!!

India fail to convert the first PC of the game and with that, the first quarter has come to an end.

First PC for India. Can they score and double the lead???

It's Hardik Singh now!!! Another entry into the circle by the Koreans but Hardik does well to intercept and clear the ball to Birendra Lakra. No damage done on this occasion for the Indian side.

GOOD SAVE BY INDIA!!!

India lose the ball and it's Korea on the attack again. They have a chance as there is an opening. However, Amit Rohidas guards well in the Indian defence denies the opponents a chance to score. 

GOAL FOR INDIA - SIMRANJEET SINGH

India gets the benefit of starting on an attacking note. Simranjeet Singh gets his name on the scoresheet first on the night of the final. It's a lead for the Indians in the ninth minute of the game. Mandeep and Sumit play one-two between them near the circle before Mandeep eventually giving the ball to Simranjeet who makes no mistake in tapping it past the Korean keeper. EARLY LEAD FOR INDIA!!! GREAT START!!!

Korea enter the Indian circle but Varun Kumar is careful over there to take the ball under his control. A long aerial ball from Varun for Sumit but no chance for the Indians here. Some excellent skills from Varun in display here.

It's Birendra Lakra who tries to attack. That's really rare. The Sundergarh lad goes past three players but eventually loses the ball. India has started on a very positive note against the Koreans today. Can they continue like this???

India go on for another attack. Vivek Sagar Prasad plays the ball for Mandeep inside the circle. However, it hits the striker's feet and India lose the possession inside the circle again. ATTACKING START FOR INDIA!!!

India makes the first circle penetration in the final. The strikers moved forward in good numbers inside the D. However, they lose the ball after a good effort by the Korean defence straightaway. 

PUSHBACK!!!

The first quarter of the final begins. It's a big game. It's India vs Korea. Remember the game in the group stage between these two sides had ended in a 1-1 draw.

It's time for the final PUSHBACK! 🏑🏑 #IndiaKaGame #SultanAzlanShahCup2019 pic.twitter.com/lqnIJRcUgO

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) March 30, 2019

Teams are out for the National Anthems. Last few minutes before the start of the big final. HERE WE GO!!!

The BIG FINAL awaits! ⏰

India 🇮🇳 to take on Korea 🇰🇷 in a few minutes from now!

Show us how loud can your cheers get 📣! #IndiaKaGame #SultanAzlanShahCup2019 pic.twitter.com/kI1SeZJ5iG

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) March 30, 2019

India Vs Korea; Azlan Shah Cup Final. #azlanshahcup2019 pic.twitter.com/1graaTLyE2

— Sundeep Misra (@MisraSundeep) March 30, 2019

Around 10 minutes to go for the start of the game and both the teams are warming up on the turf now. Hosts Malaysia, earlier won against Canada by 4-2 goals to finish third in the tournament. 

Here's Team India's 🇮🇳 Starting XI for the Final of the 28th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2019 against Korea 🇰🇷 on 30th March.#IndiaKaGame #SultanAzlanShahCup2019 pic.twitter.com/wafe6RSG52

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) March 30, 2019

It's time for the most important game of the tournament as the joint winners of the 2010 edition India and Korea get ready to battle it out against each other in the summit clash at the Stadium Azlan Shah here in Ipoh.

This is Chiranjibi Pati in the SportsCafe commentary box to bring you the live action from Ipoh. Action to begin in some time now. Starting XI coming up next...

After an unbeaten run in the 28th edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup this year, the Indian team will be up against South Korea in the final encounter today evening. India and Korea had also qualified for the final in 2010 but the game was washed out and the two teams had to share the honours then.

India is in a phenomenal form in the tournament and their real test will be today against the Koren team, the only side which managed to restrict India from winning its game in the league stage of the tournament in Ipoh. Korea and India had played a 1-1 draw earlier in the tournament and both the teams had ended the round-robin stage at 13 points each with four wins and one draw. However, India was ahead of the South Korean team because of a better goal difference in the league matches.

The Indian team will be high on confidence for the final game as they had won their last three games quite convincingly after a slow start against Japan and Korea. The last win with a margin of 10 goals would work as a huge advantage for skipper Manpreet Singh who was rested in the last game and Surender Kumar had the armband against the Polish opponents. This promises to be a mouth-watering end to the tournament where most of the top teams didn’t participate because of the FIH Pro League. However, India will take a lot of positives from this tournament as it is the season opener after a disappointing end to India’s World Cup campaign at home in December last year.