South Korea stop Sohail juggernaut

The speedy and fit Koreans adopted their one-time conquerors Japan’s tactics of `Kamikaze’ to defeat three-time gold medallists Pakistan 1-0 in the first semi-final.

Later, Atlanta Games champions Holland dashed Australia’s hopes of clinching their first ever gold by `stroking’ them out 5-4 in the tie-break after the teams had failed to score even once in 70 minutes regulation time and 15 minutes extra time in the other semi.

Dutch custodian Ronald Jensen, their hero at Atlanta in the final against Spain, saved Aussie Brent Livermore’s final penalty-stroke with his stick to knock-out the hosts from the gold medal race.

Korea made their maiden entry into the final by finding out a way to tackle Pakistan’s penalty corner ace Sohail Abbas knowing that once he was neutralised, things would go their way in their all-Asian semi-final. Korean coach Kim Sang-ryul, a product of India’s Balkishen Singh in the National Institute of Sports at Patiala, said, “We had adopted the kamikaze tactics.

Four of our boys were prepared to foil Sohail Abbas one after the other and not give him enough space”.

In the process Lim Jung-Woo was injured and taken to hospital for X-rays and he might even miss the final, according to Kim.

In the absorbing tie, the Koreans, with their positive and forthright game, turned the tables on the Pakistanis who dominated the proceedings.

After a barren first half, Pakistan forced as many as six penalty corners in vain while the Koreans struck pay dirt with their third and final award.

Yeo Woon-Kon pushed the ball to Kang Keon-Wook who tapped it back to the centre for the wily Song Seung-Tae to flick in for the all-important goal.

The Pakistanis had their chances, the best coming in the 37th minute when Kamran Ashraf’s deflection off a long shot struck the Korean crosspiece.

Earlier, Anis Mohammed shot wide of an empty goal off a pass from Atif Bashir.