India thrash South Korea 8-0 to finish Asian Champions Trophy league stage unbeaten

India vs Korea (Photo by Hockey India)

JALANDHAR: Unbeaten India finished the league phase of the Asian Champions Trophy with an 8-0 win over South Korea here on Monday.Dilpreet Singh (8th, 40th minutes) scored a brace, while Jugraj Singh (11), Harmanpreet Singh (15), Shilanand Lakra (33), Sukhjeet Singh (34), Sanjay Rana (36) and Angad Bir Singh (60) added a goal each.

India topped the league with five wins and will again meet South Korea in the semifinals. Malaysia will take on Japan in the other last-four contest as the action shifts to Mohali.India built early pressure, with Sukhjeet creating chances. The breakthrough came in the opening quarter when Jarmanpreet Singh sliced through the Korean defence and Dilpreet Singh beat goalkeeper Kim Jaehyeon with a reverse flick.India doubled the lead with Jugraj converting a penalty corner.

Skipper Harmanpreet added another in the 15th minute. India carried the momentum into the second quarter, keeping up their attacking intensity and possession control.Despite Korea's attempts to fight back, India's defensive organisation and superior ball control kept them in command with a three-goal cushion at half-time.

India made it one-sided in the third quarter with four more goals. Shilanand opened the scoring for the quarter, finishing a penalty corner variation involving Harmanpreet and Jugraj from near the post.

The fifth goal came from strong team coordination, with Harmanpreet's long pass finding Aditya Lalage, who set up Sukhjeet for a simple deflection.The home team showed no signs of slowing down as Shilanand set up Dilpreet, whose effort the goalkeeper stopped before Sanjay converted the rebound for 6-0. Sanjay then turned provider, controlling Harmanpreet's aerial pass and driving forward before Dilpreet's stick touch made it 7-0. Angad rounded off the tally just before the final whistle.Other results: China: 1 (Chen Benhai 2) drew with Bangladesh: 1 (Ashraful Islam 38); Japan: 2 (Kentaro Fukuda 24, 54) bt Malaysia: 1 (Abu Kamal Azrai 10).