India Vs South Korea Semifinal, Asian Champions Trophy Hockey 2024 Highlights: IND Set-Up China Final Clash After KOR Humbling

Welcome to the live coverage of the second semi-final of the Asian Champions Trophy between India Vs South Korea played at the Moqi Training Base in Hulunbuir, China.

The match is scheduled to start at 3:30 PM IST.

India come into the semi-finals after beating China 3-0, Japan 5-1, Malaysia 8-1, Korea 3-1 and Pakistan 2-1, while on the other hand, South Korea enter the fixture after a thrilling Malaysia victory, and have only lost to India in the ongoing tournament, and is expected to be an mouth-watering encounter.

India's Harmanpreet Singh and South Korea's Yang Ji-Hun have found their drag-flicking form. However, can they produce the goods in high-pressure situations with a Asian Champions Trophy final ticket in on the line?

While the second semi-final is just about 60 minutes away, the first semi-final seems to be living up to the billing with both Pakistan and China level in the fourth quarter. Talk about a proper trailer before the real movie starts! Quite the tournament so far!

Absolute scenes at the Moqi Training Base as China are through to the final of the Asian Champions Trophy for the very first time after a stunning showing by goalkeeper Wang Caiyu in the shootout, saving all four Pakistani attempts.

The hosts win the shoot-out 2-0, and will now face India or South Korea in the final on September 17.

We are just about 30 minutes away from the start of the second semi-final, and Nilakanta Sharma does not start for India.

India's XI: Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Harmanpreet Singh (c), Sumit, Raj Kumar Pal, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Manpreet Singh, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal

What happened when these two teams last met at the Asian Champions Trophy?

The last time these two teams faced off against each other at the Asian Champions Trophy, India beat South Korea 3-1 in a round-robin match. 

India Vs South Korea, head-to-head record

India lead the head-to-head record 38-11 against the South Koreans, with 12 matches ending in a draw. However, with a place in the Asian Champions Trophy final on the line, this could be anyone's game.

As the clock ticks to the start of the first quarter, India enter as favourites. However, during the last encounter, the Korean side dominated the defending champions in the second quarter, and it should be another test for the Indian attackers going against a good Korean defence. 

"This game will be like the spear (India) against the shield (Korea). When we have our chances, we need to score the goals," was the allusion used by the Korean head coach Min Tae-seok ahead of the semi-final.

The anthems are done, and both teams are almost ready for the whistle to blow for the start of the first quarter of the second semi-final. Should be a cracking one!

And we are off! India manage to secure the ball, but do not manage to string in passes as the Koreans intercept, and look to enter India's circle through the right flank. A few exchanges, and the game slowly starts to settle down.

Well, well, this was a massive chance for India. Uttam showed off his skills down the right as he cut back towards Raheel, whose shot was charged down by Kim. India on the attack!

Uttam Singh draws first blood as the defending champions lead at the Moqi Training Base. Sensational passing, sensational game play. 1-0 India!

And that's the first quarter done, with India ahead. Korea, did earn penalty corners in the final stages of the first quarter, but failed to convert it. The first 15 has managed to live up to the hype and it should be three more exciting quarters.

Goaaaall!! 2-0 India!! And absolutely no mistakes from Harmanpreet this time around. Not the best of his strikes, but it takes a deflection and goes through to double India's lead. The Koreans will have an Everest to climb.

India continue to dominate play in the second quarter of the second semi-final. The Koreans, however, will need to strike a bit of magic in those sticks to come back into this one. There is plenty of time left to launch a fightback though.

Brilliant from the Indian goalkeeper just at the stroke of half-time. After a defensive error from Raheel, who missed the interception, Kong Yoon-ho went away at Karkera’s goal but was shut down. 2-0 at the break!

We are underway in the third quarter as India continue were they left off, pressing Korea to the limit. It has gone to plan for India so far, and they seem to take the same blueprint again.

Is that game, set, and match? Jarmanpreet Singh makes it 3-0 for India, and what a strike that is! A beautiful aerial switch from Sumit, which was brought down brilliantly by Jarmanpreet and absolutely nails it to near-perfection. The Korean goalkeeper has no time to react and boom it goes.

On the other end, Yang Jihun pulls one back for the Koreans to make it 3-1. A goal South Korea desperately needed.

The Indian attackers have been sensational, but the Indian defense? Each aspect of the back line from match awareness, defensive sense, the game management has been top notch. Attack wins to games, defense wins to championships.

The long corner rule was changed in 2023 from being similar to a penalty corner to a free hit that is taken from the spot on the goal-line within five yards from the corner flag with all players except the striker at least five years from the ball.

If the South Koreans hope to fight it out in the last quarter, they should be putting these away. To rub salt into the wounds, the Korean goalkeeper has been shown a yellow and India have been awarded a penalty corner.

And as expected, Harmanpreet Singh scores and make it 4-1 for the defending champions.

The top scores of the Asian Champions Trophy 2024:

Yang Ji-hun (South Korea) - 8

Harmanpreet Singh (India) - 7

India continue to do what they do best, and have been in complete control of the game as Korea have lack the final edge. They just have not showed up, and they botch up yet another penalty corner.

And it is full-time at the Moqi Training Base, and India are through to the final of the Asian Champions Trophy after thrashing South Korea 4-1.

India will now face off against hosts China in the final of the Asian Champions Trophy at the Moqi Training Base on Tuesday, September 17.

Thank you for joining our live hockey coverage of the India Vs South Korea match, and we will see you soon. Until next time, take care and goodbye!