BSS, Dhaka :
Jang Jonghyun scored a brilliant hat-trick saw South Korea reached the final of the Hero Men’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey when they came from behind beat Pakistan by 6-5 goals in the keenly contested first semifinal held on Tuesday at Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium.
Pakistan took the early lead in the first quarter when Umar Bhatta scored a field goal in the 3rd minute while Jang Jonghyun restored the parity for Korea converting a penalty stroke in the 11th minute.
Korea took the lead in the next minute when Jang Jonghyun scored his second goal converting a penalty stroke to make the scoreline 2-1.
Pakistan however staged a fightback in the second quarter as Junaid Manzoor restored the parity scoring a field goal in the 22nd minute but Korea again went ahead when Jang Jonghyun completed his hat-trick scoring his third goal converting a penalty corner in the 24th minute.
Afraz again brought Pakistan back into the match scoring the third goal for his team in the 30th minute but Jihun Yang again put Korea ahead converting a penalty corner in the next minute.
Jeong Jun-woo further widened the team’s margin in the third quarter with a field goal in the 44th minute to finish the scoreline 5-3.
Pakistan however stages a brilliant comeback in the fourth quarter scoring two goals. Mubashir Ali reduced the margin for Pakistan in the fourth quarter converting a penalty corner in the 47th minute and he levelled the margin 5-5 scoring converting a penalty corner in the 51st minute.
But, it was Jang Jonghyun who sealed the victory scoring the sixth goal for Korea converting a penalty corner in the 55th minute. Korea will now play the final against the day’s second semifinal winners’ either India or Japan scheduled to be held Thursday (Dec 23) at the same venue.
