ACT: Dilpreet scores brace as India thrash Korea 8-0 to finish league stage unbeaten

India vs Korea (Photo by Hockey India)

Five-time champions India produced a dominant performance to thrash South Korea 8-0 in their final round-robin match of the Asian Champions Trophy on Monday. The win extended India's unbeaten run in the tournament and helped them finish at the top of the standings with a perfect 15 points from five matches.India had already beaten Bangladesh 13-0, China 5-2, Japan 4-1 and Malaysia 4-2 before completing their league-stage campaign with another convincing victory. They will now travel to Mohali for the semifinals, where they will face South Korea on Wednesday. Japan and Malaysia will meet in the other semifinal.

Dilpreet Singh scored twice, while Jugraj Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Sukhjeet Singh, Sanjay and Angad Bir Singh scored once each.

India take early control

India started on the front foot, creating chances from the opening minutes. Dilpreet opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a reverse hit after receiving a pass from Jarmanpreet Singh. Jugraj doubled the lead three minutes later, scoring from a rebound after South Korea failed to convert two penalty corners.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh made it 3-0 in the 15th minute with a powerful drag-flick from a penalty corner.

South Korea tried to fight back in the second quarter and earned several penalty corners, but India's defence stood firm.

Four goals after the break

India returned from the half-time break with renewed energy. Shilanand Lakra scored in the 33rd minute from a rebound, followed by Sukhjeet Singh's field goal a minute later. Sanjay added another in the 36th minute after a well-worked attacking move.Dilpreet completed his brace in the 40th minute with a deflection off Sanjay's strike, taking India's lead to 7-0. Angad Bir Singh then put the finishing touches on the performance with a reverse-hit field goal in the 60th minute.South Korea earned two successive penalty corners just before the final hooter but failed to convert either opportunity. India wrapped up an emphatic 8-0 win, maintaining their unbeaten record and keeping a clean sheet.