South Korea is aiming to improve their chances in the semi-finals, but they must now take on the strong Indian team, who have been dominant in the competition and are aiming for their fourth consecutive victory. India have already found the net 16 times and only let in two goals in the three matches they have played up to now.
India seem clear favorites to win the title
India has proven themselves as the clear favorites in the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy and are aiming for their fourth straight victory as they prepare to take on South Korea on Thursday. Just about 24 hours ago the match, India had beaten Malaysia 8-1.
South Korea holds the second position, with India leading by such a wide margin that it would be unexpected for the former to compete against the Olympic bronze medalists.
Prior to defeating Malaysia 8-1, India won against Japan 5-1 and China 3-0 in their first match. In contrast, Korea began their tournament with a 5-5 draw against Japan, in which both teams scored as many goals. After tying 2-2 with Pakistan, they secured their first tournament victory by defeating China 3-2 in the last match.
Also read: Asian Champions Trophy: India defeat hosts China 3-0 in the opener
India hammered Malaysia 8-1
Rajkumar Pal achieved a hat-trick against Malaysia with goals in the 3rd, 25th, and 33rd minutes, while Araijeet Singh Hundal scored two goals in the 6th and 39th minutes to complete a brace. Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored in the 22nd minute, Jugraj Singh in the 7th minute, and Uttam Singh in the 40th minute. Prior to that, Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh were the top scorers for India in the first two games.
The Olympic bronze medalist have been excelling in offense and defense, making them stand out above the competition in this tournament. This will mark their 61st encounter with South Korea and they are currently in the lead. India lead the head-to-head 37-11, with 12 matches ending in draws.