Familiar low for Indians

India8217;s agonizing sequence of conceding late goals continued to haunt the team as they suffered a stunning 1-2 defeat against Korea...

India8217;s agonizing sequence of conceding late goals continued to haunt the team as they suffered a stunning 1-2 defeat against Korea in a pool B encounter of the World Cup hockey meet here today. The familiar position for the team was followed later by a familiar refrain from the coach, this time Vasudevan Baskaran, who not only put the blame on the umpiring, but commended his players for an 8220;excellent performance8221;.

India, seeking to record their first win in the high-profile tournament, frittered away a second half lead as their opponents struck twice in the last seven minutes to clinch the match at the Warsteiner Hockey Park.

A last-minute penalty corner conversion by Jong Hyn Jang ensured that Vasudevan Baskaran8217;s men remained winless after four matches, having managed only a draw against South Africa.

After a barren opening session, India shot into the lead through Shivendra Singh 46th who took his tally to four goals in as many matches in the World Cup. The euphoria was short-lived as the Koreans, equalized through Jang 63rd in the dying minutes.

India yielded ground under tremendous pressure that saw the Koreans force seven penalty corners in the second half as against two in the first and Jang8217;s two conversions provided Korea their third win in four matches for a tally of 10 points.

India have just one point and are scheduled to play Holland on the morrow in their concluding league fixture.

Coach Baskaran, defended his team for an 8220;excellent performance8221;, and said India should have beaten Korea today.

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Stopping short of lambasting the umpiring, Baskaran thought that India were denied a penalty stroke late in the game when Shivendra Singh8217;s goalbound try struck a defender on the body. 8220;It should have been a penalty stroke and not a penalty corner that the umpire Xavier Adell of Spain awarded,8221; he said after the match.

8220;The media witnessed the match and so, it is up to you people to give your observations on the standard of umpiring,8221; said Baskaran who was seen having a heated argument with the technical table immediately after the match.

8220;We needed three points from this match and I thought we played extremely well today but for missing the chances. We had Korea under pressure, but we were more intent on attacking and left our defence open,8221; he said when asked about the nine penalty corners that India conceded.

With regard to the yellow card suspension India8217;s third in four matches of midfielder Prabhodh Tirkey eight minutes from close, Baskaran said: 8220;I don8217;t know why the yellow card was given, but in any case, playing with 10 men is a disadvantage. 8221;

8211;Anand Philar