New Delhi, December 7: Three goals in six minutes - against one of the crack teams in the world. It was a scene out of one of those amazing scripts from India's glorious past. Or, an episode from the fascinating comeback stories written time and again by the Europeans or South Koreans in recent times.But the fightback, amazingly, came from the Indian women at National Stadium today, when they were just 12 minutes away from the elimination bell.India's demolition job in the Hero Honda Asia Cup women's hockey tournament, sadly, was witnessed only by a handful of spectators who gave vent to their pent-up frustration - after the draws against Japan and China - waving the tricolour and shouting long after the girls in blue had finished their victory lap.India's 3-2 victory over South Korea put them top of the table with 11 points. Korea finished with 10, and will be hungry for revenge when the two sides meet in the final on December 10. China, meanwhile, trooped out dejected, their chance of making tothe final scuttled by India's win.India, who are now in with a chance to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, put a spirited display even though they were at the receiving end for most part in the fast-paced encounter. They started in a whirlwind fashion running all over the Korean territory in the first 10 minutes, forcing two penalty corners, but Korea took charge after that.Korea scored in the last minute of the first half through Hyung Jung Woo, and attacked in waves in the second sesssion but ran into Indian goalkeeper Tingonleima Chanu, who played the match of her life. She dived and rushed at everything thrown at her and blocked penalty corners hits - Korea earned nine - with elan.Chanu, undoubtedly was the star of India's win. She made three brilliant saves in the first half, and kept her cool in the second when all seemed lost. She indeed set the stage for the drama which unfolded in the dying minutes.India equalised out of the blue when Pritam Rani Siwatch calmly guided a Manjinder crossfrom 30 yards into the goal with the Korean goalkeeper out of position. That triggered the comeback. The Koreans looked rattled and the Indians were a transformed side. The second goal turned the Koreans into mere spectators.Marystella Tirkey's rasping hit found Pritam's stick and flew over the goalkeeper into the roof of the net. The celebrations has already started. And even before the din could die down, Sumrai Tete volleyed home when Kamla Dalal's cross from the right caught a defender's stick and came at waist height towards Tete.A furious Korean coach kept rushing towards the sidleines shouting instructions and his girls obliged pulling one back, Woo scoring her second goal. But the Indians resorted to crowding tactics, and survived the nail-biting final five minutes to take home a famous victory.Coach Gurdyal Singh Bhangu was elated and said after the match: ``Chanu was the player of the match, but everyone played well. Even the midfield held strong.''Bhangu put today's win in perspectivesaying, ``The Koreans play an open game in search for goals. They don't crowd like Japan and China and that gave us the chance to come back.''But wasn't he surprised by the aggression showed by his girls towards the end? ``The pep talk yesterday did have its effect. But we should not carried away. The final is yet to come,'' he said.In the inconsequential morning encounter, Japan beat Malaysia 3-0, S Miyazaki, T Tsuki and K Chiba scoring for the winners.Wednesday's Match: China vs Kazakhstan
