CTT09 x DAY5 x KOR v ENG

The final day of pool matches. Every game can have some complete bearing on the finals. Every goal will make a difference. This is what Hockey should be, and finally we have a tournament that delivers a brilliant spectacle of hockey quality and an exciting run to the finals.

England has no chance for the gold medal match, but Korea still is in the hunt in a real way. This games result has shaped the two to come.

The first is what we would have predicted. Korea brought their run and gun game. England effectively used posession then bursting through directly onto the setup Korean Defence. After Englands fourth PC (third in a row) they opened the scoring.

In an almost instant response, the Korean Star Seo broke the lines through run to pinpoint a pass to Yoon waiting by himself in the circle. It was a matter of turning the stick for a goal. The game was tied.

At the strike of half time Jackson was shown the green for a two minute rest.

5 minutes into the second, England jumped on the front foot. An attack that saw great numbers if attackers committed saw the English score only the whistle had been blown barely a second before for a Short Corner. Once again the video Umpire was called in. The result was an awarded goal. England throw the game up in the air and the Aussie’s watching on the side looked a little happier. A Korean loss or draw would automatically put the Kookas into the final.

At this point, Grant Shubert sits down next to me. The score at 2 to 1 in England’s favour. I’m thinking aloud that the Korean’s fitness and counter will even the game back up. His response was simple. “You watch, England will score here on the counter attack.” Exactly 1 minute and 42 seconds later, England scored on the counter-attack against the run. The game looked safe with less than 20 mins to go.

Not forgetting that Korea came back against Spain from a four goal deficit, the tension was still there. In the same fashion that the last Korean goal was scored, they did it again with twelve minutes to go from a powerful run and strong finish. The game was back on at 3 to 2.

The over-run we expected didn’t happen.  The men in white and red (with a some lions on their uniform) kept their legs to have more control on the ball. Barely seconds left they break through again for a final score from a Penalty Corner variation of you can call it that.

Game over at 4 to 2.

Korea will play in the 3rd and 4th play-off game.  Most likely against Holland (unless they beat Germany for 4 goals or more).

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org