Yang Jihun hauled South Korea into the semifinals of the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy with a late penalty corner conversion to give his side a come-from-behind 3-3 draw against Malaysia at the Moqi Hockey Training Base in Hulunbuir, China.
The result gave the 2021 ACT champions Koreans a direct qualification into the last four of the championship by amassing six points and claimed fourth spot in the table standings behind four-time champions India who led with an unbeaten record of 15 points. They defeated Pakistan 2-1 today.
Pakistan has 8 points and placed second followed by China in third spot (6) who defeated Japan 2-0. Malaysia finished in fifth spot and Japan sixth respectively after the conclusion of round-robin matches.
In the semi-finals on Monday (16 Sept), India will face South Korea and Pakistan goes head-to-head against China. Malaysia and Japan will play in the fifth-sixth placing match.
The Speedy Tigers chances of claiming the fourth spot in the six-team tournament which will would qualify them for the semifinals rested on the graciousness of a victory by Japan against China. A win or a draw by Japan would have catapult the Malaysians into the semi-final.
“In all honesty, it was our match and we should have won. The players gave their best especially in the second until the fourth quarter,” said Speedy Tigers’ head coach Sarjit Singh, adding that the last penalty corner earned by the Koreans and the subsequent result was questionable.
“We can’t do anything about it as the umpires call the shots and their decision is final. We have to accept this situation and let this be a lesson to the players that it should not happen in future,” he said.
Riding high after taking the lead twice – first 2-1 in the 35th minute through Norsyafiq Sumantri’s field goal, and then in the 55th minute via Faizal Saari’s penalty corner strike – the mood in the Malaysian camp soon shifted from euphoria to sadness.
The Speedy Tigers sank deep into murky waters when the Koreans earned a penalty corner with four seconds remaining to the end of regulation time. Yang stepped up and was outstanding in his conversions – scoring his second goal after giving his side a grand start in the fourth minute for a 1-0 lead. Forward Muhamad Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal had earlier equalised 1-1 with a 28th minute field goal.
