Spain’s Gabriel Dabach (right) is challenged by South Korea’s Kim Kyung-hun in their Group C match in Johor yesterday. Korea won 1-0. — Pic: ZULKARNAIN AHMAD TAJUDDIN SOUTH Korea qualified for the second round of the Junior World Cup when they edged Spain 1-0 in a Group C tie at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru yesterday.
It was a hard fought victory, and the hero was Seo Jin-su who scored a field goal in the 49th minute, after which they were reduced to a defensive side.
Spain had a barrage of penalty corners in the last 10 minutes, but failed to equalise, and will now play Malaysia today in a crucial do-or-die clash.
In Group D, India look set for an early exit after they lost 3-2 to Netherlands at the Sengkang Hockey Stadium in Singapore.
India have four points from four matches and will play Poland tomorrow to wrap up their fixtures.
"We had three penalty corners in the last five minutes with Netherlands down to nine men but still failed to equalise," said India team manager Anupan Ghulati.
India took the lead off Antil Mandep in the fifth minute, but Netherlands equalised in the 10th minute off a Mink van er Weerden penalty corner.
Three minutes later Netherlands took the lead off a Weerden penalty corner and the Dutchman got his hat-trick in the 51st minute to make it 3-1.
Kullu Innocent scored India's second in the 53rd minute.
