NEW DELHI, March 7 (IANS) - Korea unleashed a second-half blitz to demolish Canada 9-2 in their Pool A match to keep their hopes alive in the Hockey World Cup here today.
Nam Hyun-Woo converted a penalty corner in the 23th minute before Jong-Hyun Jang (35th) slotted home a penalty stroke as Korea went 2-0 up in the half-time.
But it was at the the start of the second half that Korea slammed four goals in seven minutes with lightning fast moves and shocked Canada. Nam-Yong Lee (38th), Sung-Hoon Yoon (40th) Hyo Sik You (41st) and Jong-Hyun (45th) increased the lead to 6-1. Phillip Wright (42nd, 51st ) narrowed the margin for Canada.
Korea converted two more penalty corners through Jong-Hyun (61st), who completed tournament's third hat-trick, and Hyun-Woo (67th), while Hyo-Sik scored an amazing solo in the 63rd minute.
Korea romped to their biggest victory in the World Cup surpassing their 7-2 win over Belgium in 1994. Korea are now on seven points from four matches and with one match still to go against the Netherlands, they remain in contention for a semi-final position.
Korea also bettered their goal difference. They have scored 14 goals and conceded seven.
After making a rousing start to World Cup as they held defending champions Germany and edged past Argentina, Korea, which finished fourth in the last two editions, received a setback in their last encounter losing 1-2 to New Zealand.
But they came back with vengeance to overpower a hapless Canada today.
Korea got six penalty corner chances and converted four.
The Asian team had a measure of their opponents in the first half before pounding on Canada after the breather with relentless raids. The Korean forwards toyed with the rival defence. They would reach deep into the rival half with swift moves and precision passes, diving and sliding at the goalmouth to guide the ball in with a touch of their stick. They made it look easy, but the execution was brilliant and the end-product beautiful to watch.
Nam Yong opened the floodgates scoring from a pass from the left flank. For the next few minutes Korea mesmerised the handful of spectators with their speed and skill. Sung-Hoon dived in front of goalkeeper Matthew Peck to deflect in a cross from Hyo Sik.
Hyo Sik then latched onto a ball from captain Jong Ho Seo at the top of the circle and hit it past captain Peck.
Wright opened the scoring for Canada before Jong Hyun's powerful penalty corner hit struck Paul Wettlaufer on his forehead on way to the goal. An injured Wettlaufer immediately left the field for medical attention.
Wright then pulled one back through a pass from Mark Pearson to make the scoreline 6-2. Jong- Hyun slammed in one of his trademark dragflicks into the Canadian net for his third goal.
Hyo Sik scored one of the best goal of the tournament as he launched into a solo, dribbled past four defenders and finished with a reverse hit on the run.
