It’s India vs Pakistan for the title

Kuantan (Malaysia), Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh helped India beat South Korea in the penalty shootout and set up a mouth-watering title clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in the fourth Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here.
India won 5-4 in the shootout after both the teams were locked 2-2 at the end of regulation time. Later in the day, defending champions Pakistan beat hosts Malaysia 3-2 in the penalty shootout of the second semifinal after the regulation period ended at 1-1.
This is India’s third entry into the final of the tournament, having won the inaugural edition in 2011 and finishing runners-up to Pakistan in 2012.
Sreejesh saves best for last
Having recovered from his ankle injury, Sreejesh started in today’s semifinal and made his presence felt — he saved South Korea’s last attempt in the shootout. Sreejesh rushed out to put pressure on Lee Dae-Yeol and seeing the slightest of openings the Indian goalkeeper swept the ball away to safety in a flash. As the ball rolled away, Sreejesh threw away his stick, shook off his gloves, took off his helmet and let out a loud roar, more in relief than joy.
Sreejesh’s aggressive approach during a couple of earlier attempts had failed and he had also seen a save overturned after a Korean video referral. He had also failed to stop the resultant penalty stroke, having guessed the direction correctly. All that frustration culminated into the loud roar, within moments of which he was taken down by his on-rushing teammates.
Sardar to the rescue
Earlier, the experienced Sardar Singh produced a moment of magic to bring India back into the match. India having fallen 2-1 behind with seven minutes to go in the match, Sardar took it upon himself to get his team the equaliser against the ever defensive Koreans.
Running along the baseline at the left, he dodged past two Korean defenders to enter the circle and took his time to set up Ramandeep Singh for the easiest of deflections.
Tight affair
Top-ranked India found the young Koreans tough opponents, who bounced back after conceding the initial lead. India dominated the possession and created the better chances but found it hard to break the Korean defence. India wasted the three penalty corners they were awarded.
Talwinder Singh gave India the lead in the 15th minute. He used his body, keeping the defender behind him, to create space in the circle; and after getting the ball struck a quick tomahawk shot with a short grip to catch the goalkeeper off guard. The Koreans came back to score through Seo In-Woo’s strike in the 21st minute and then took the lead from a penalty stroke conversion by Yang Ji-Hun in the 53rd minute. Sreejesh had judged correctly on this occasion also but the scuffed push from Yang sneaked under the goalkeeper’s outstretched right leg.
After Sardar’s equaliser, India pushed for the winner but Korea withstood the pressure. In the shootout, Sardar, Ramandeep, Rupinder Pal Singh and Akashdeep Singh scored before Birendra Lakra was obstructed and the resultant penalty stroke was converted by Rupinder.
For South Korea, captain Jung Man-Jae, Kim Hyeong-Jin and Lee Jung-Jun faced no problem in converting their attempts.
Bae Jong-Suk’s attempt was saved by Sreejesh but a penalty stroke was awarded for a stick-check by the Indian goalkeeper after Korea asked for a video referral and the resultant stroke was converted by Yang. It all came down to the last Korean shot and Sreejesh rose to the occasion to seal the affair.