Hosts India were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw against defending champions South Korea in their opening Super 4 stage match of the Asia Cup. The contest, played at the Rajgir Sports Complex, saw India dominate possession and create numerous opportunities, but their poor finishing proved to be their downfall. Despite the result, both teams earned a crucial point in the Super 4 stage.
The match, which was delayed by a heavy spell of rain, began with India on the front foot. Their efforts paid off in the 8th minute when Hardik Singh scored a brilliant goal after a decisive run from the midfield. However, their lead was short-lived. South Korea fought back with two quick goals: Yang Jihun converted a penalty stroke in the 12th minute, and Hyeonhong Kim slotted home from a penalty corner just two minutes later, giving the defending champions an unexpected lead.
For the next 45 minutes, the story of the match was India's missed chances. The team failed to convert any of their six penalty corners and repeatedly missed opportunities from open play. Players were either a second too late with their passes or too hasty with their shots, a trend that frustrated both the team management and the home crowd. Korean goalkeeper Jaehan Kim was deservedly named Player of the Match for his impressive saves that denied India on multiple occasions.
India's relentless attack, however, finally paid off in the final quarter. With just seven minutes left on the clock, a perfectly placed pass from Sukhjeet Singh found Mandeep Singh at the far post, who calmly tapped the ball into the net to level the score. The equalizer brought a collective sigh of relief, but it couldn't hide the fact that India had wasted a multitude of chances that could have secured a win.
The draw marks India's first of the tournament after three consecutive wins in the group stage. The team now has less than 24 hours to regroup and prepare for their next crucial match against Malaysia on Thursday. The players will need to sort out their mental and physical game if they hope to get back to their winning ways and secure a spot in the final.
