South Korea prove too good for India

South Korea proved too good for India, winning their last league match 3-0 and making it to the final of the Azlan Shah hockey tournament, at the Bukit Jalil stadium, in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

The victory saw the Koreans finish with 13 points and take second place in the seven-team league.

In the final on Sunday, they meet Germany, who beat England 2-1 in an earlier match to finish with an all-win record.

India had to win Friday's match against the Koreans by a big margin to finish in the 3-4 bracket. But once Shin Seok-kyo scored for the Koreans through a penalty-corner in the 32nd minute, there was never a chance of them even coming back to hold the Olympic silver medalists, whose overall efficiency proved a distinct cut above this young Indian side lacking in big match play.

Song Seung-tae and Yeo Woon-kon put the issue beyond doubt with goals in the 37th and 54th minutes respectively.

The Indians, who finished with just four points from six matches, will now have to settle for fifth-sixth placings.

In the earlier match, Germany played at a relaxed pace yet managed to beat England by the odd goal in three.

England took the lead through Mark Pearn, who beat German goalkeeper Christopher Reitz with a field goal in the 18th minute.

The Germans restored parity four minutes from half-time through Matthias Witthaus, before Oliver Domke scored the match-winner in te 46th minute, connecting home a cross from Florian Kunz.

Malaysia finished last in the tournament after being thrashed by Australia 7-1 in the concluding match of the league.

Hoping for at least a draw in order to stay in the race for a fifth-sixth placing, the hosts simply caved in after surprisingly taking a 17th minute lead and ended up with just two points.

Australia, who finished third, will play Pakistan for the third-fourth placings on Sunday.

Logan Raj put Malaysia ahead before the Aussies wiped off the lead four minutes later through Adam Commens and then struck in the 32nd minute through Jaime Dwyer to cross over at the breather a goal up.

In the second session, there was nothing the Malaysians could do as the Aussies went on a scoring spree. Troy Elder scored twice within five minutes to make it 4-1 and then completed his hat-trick in the 55th minute before Ben Taylor and Michael McCann could get their names on the scoresheet with goals in the 46th and 47th minutes respectively.

Complete Coverage: Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament, 2001