India beat South Korea 2-0 to reach Asian Games hockey final

India beat South Korea 2-0 to reach the Asian Games hockey final at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium on Wednesday, with goals from Ishika in the 44th minute and Salima Tete in the 48th minute.

India dominated possession and territory for long spells but could not break down a resilient South Korean defence until late in the match; the team had missed out at the previous edition after a semifinal loss to China before taking bronze. India will be hoping to both avenge that defeat and secure Olympic qualification, with China having beaten Japan 4-2 in a shootout in the other semi after a goalless 60 minutes.

India began the game on the front foot and collected the first of its 10 penalty corners in the fourth minute, but Deepika’s resulting shot was saved. That pattern — India winning penalty corners and Korea defending set pieces — repeated through much of the contest.

South Korea largely adopted a defensive posture, offering few forward forays and leaving much of the play confined to its own half. At times India appeared uncertain on how to penetrate the Korean block despite controlling territory.

The deadlock was broken in the 44th minute when Ishika converted from a perfectly placed pass following India’s eighth penalty corner with a reverse shot. Four minutes later Salima Tete’s cross from the right deflected off a defender’s stick and trickled past the goal line.

Korea responded by committing more numbers forward and earned three consecutive penalty corners in search of a way back, but could not beat goalkeeper Savita Punia. The match finished 2-0 in India’s favour.

China and Japan had been tied 0-0 after regulation, with China prevailing 4-2 in the shootout.

India will face China in Friday’s final, a fixture the coverage described as likely to be a very different affair given both sides’ tendency to play a more open game than was on display on Wednesday.