India-Korea Azlan Shah Final

THERE was utter confusion in the final pool matches, and the air only cleared when India beat Egypt 7-1 in the last pool match of the 19th Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh last night.
India will play South Korea in the final, while Malaysia will battle for the bronze against Australia.
The day started with Australia beating China 4-0, and achieving their four goal target to play in the final, and then Pakistan and South Korea walked onto the pitch, with both sides needing to win by two goals to shut the door on Australia.
The score stood at 2-2 by the 57th minute, and there was super hockey being played by players from both sides.
However, mayhem errupted when Irish umpire Warren McCully awarded a penalty stroke to South Korea in the 66th minute, and the Pakistan team protested and there was a 15-minute stoppage as umpires and officials tried to get the Gren Shirts to resume the match.
Pakistan skipper Muhammad Imran was flashed the green, then yellow and finally the red card and sent off for protesting the stroke. Aamir Shahzad also received the red card, while two Koreans were flashed the yellow in the remaining tensed minutes of the match.
Instead of playing in the final, Pakistan will play China in the fifth-sixth classification match as they lost their cool and then the match 4-2.
"I can take mistakes in umpiring, but not blunders which left my young players in tears," said Pakistan team manager K.M. Junaid while showing the press video evidence which disputed the penalty stroke.
"We travelled thousands of kilometres and spent a lot of money for this tournament, and it is sad that we did not get to play in the final because of bad umpiring.
"We are here to play hockey, and not train umpires who are looking for an upgrade," lamented Junaid.
Malaysian team manager George Koshy, while rueing the lost chance to play in the final on goal difference, was optimistic that his charges will give Australia a run for their money.
"We only lost to them 2-1 in the pool match, and there were plenty of instances in that match where we could have even won it. So, I am confident that my players will give their best and it would be good to finish with a medal," said George.