S Korea overwhelm Thailand to seal last-four berth

Muscat: South Korea topped the pool B and secured spot in the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup 2022 in Spain and Netherlands as they moved to the semifinals of the Women’s Asia Cup. The Korean women thrashed Thailand 6-0 in the concluding group match on Monday at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.

South Korean head coach Han Jin Soo expressed satisfaction with the players’ performance during the match. “Thanks to the players for their top show in all the three matches. They performed very well and managed to earn full points. They delivered a high quality game. We are very pleased to qualify to the FIH Women’s World Cup 2022. The remaining matches in the Asian tourney will assist us in preparing and focusing for the global showpiece event. We will face second placed team in Pool A, which might be India. Then, it will be very tough match in the semifinal. Indian hockey team is very strong and includes experienced players’’, he said.

‘‘Our team featured many new faces and young girls. The Covid-19 impacted on the team a lot as we could not face strong teams during the last two years. However, we have prepared very hard for the Asian assignment since four months. We are looking for a tough challenge in the semis and wish to move to the final match’’, he concluded.

Against Thailand, Baek Eeseul opened the account as she netted the opening goal in the 14th minute through penalty corner.

South Korea players consistently put pressure on Thailand goalkeeper Saetan Watsana and had many moves to score more goals.

Five minutes later, Seo Jungeun added the second goal from penalty corner again. After a brilliant move, Cheon Eunbi scored the third goal in the 23rd minute.

Kim Seona made it 4-0 with another field goal.

Thailand women tried to do some attacks in between but could not penetrate the tight defence and strong Korean goalkeeper Hwang Hyeona.

From a penalty corner, Cho Hyejin scored the fifth goal in the 33rd minute to enhance Korean domination. Cheon Eunbi confirmed Korean triumph as she struck the sixth goal in the fourth quarter in the 48th minute.

In another fixture, China drubbed Indonesia 7-0 in a one-sided fixture. With the top-margin triumph, China moved to the semifinals of the Asian event as the second-placed team of Pool B.