Dilpreet Singh scored as India beat South Korea 8-0 to complete the Asian Champions Trophy stage unbeaten

India vs Korea (Photo: Hockey India) Five-time champions India produced a dominant performance as they thrashed South Korea 8-0 in their final round-robin match at the Asian Champions Trophy on Monday. The win extended India’s unbeaten run in the tournament and helped them finish top of the table 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 campaign with another convincing win. They will now travel to Mohali for the semi-finals where they will face South Korea on Wednesday. Japan and Malaysia will meet in the second semi-final.Dilpreet Singh scored twice while Jugraj Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Sukhjeet Singh, Sanjay and Angad Bir Singh scored once each.

India will take early control

India started on the front foot and created chances from the opening minutes. Dilpreet opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a reverse strike after receiving a pass from Jarmanpreet Singh. Jugraj doubled the lead three minutes later when he scored 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 header from a penalty corner. South Korea struggled to defend in the second quarter and earned several penalty corners, but India’s defense stood firm.

Four goals after the break

India returned from the half-time break with renewed energy. Shilanand Lakra scored from a rebound in the 33rd minute, followed by Sukhjeet Singh a minute later. He added another in the 36th minute after a well-worked attacking move by Sanjay.Dilpreet capped his surge in the 40th minute by deflecting Sanjay’s strike to put India 7-0 up. Angad Bir Singh then capped the performance with a reverse strike from the box in the 60th minute.South Korea earned two consecutive penalty corners just before the final siren, but failed to convert either opportunity. India wrapped up an emphatic 8-0 win, maintaining their unbeaten streak and keeping a clean sheet.