Domination: A superior objective distinction means India is assured of ending on high of the desk even with a draw or a loss against Korea.
| Photo Credit: X@DilipTirkey
With the top-four groups confirmed on anticipated traces, the ultimate league matches on the ladies’s Jharkhand Asian Champions Trophy on Thursday will likely be extra about deciding on the semifinal line-up and figuring out the niggles one final time earlier than the knockout phases.
A superior objective distinction means India is assured of ending on high of the desk even with a draw or a loss against Korea in its last league outing. However, the host can be looking at nothing lower than a win whereas maintaining its undefeated streak intact. The earlier two video games had been each shut affairs, and regardless of popping out on the profitable facet, India can be looking to clear up its scoring prowess.
Against Japan on Tuesday, India dominated play and possession however couldn’t discover the final touch regardless of having half a dozen probabilities. Coach Janneke Schopman has been vocal about her annoyance with the workforce deserving however not scoring extra objectives.
Inconsistent Korea
Korea has been inconsistent to this point with an upset win against China offset by a draw against Malaysia – the one draw to this point within the competitors – and its defence has faltered when put underneath stress. The facet has additionally scored the least of the top-four groups – 5 objectives in 4 video games – and it will be ideally suited for India to plug the scoring gaps earlier than getting into the enterprise finish of the competitors.
Penalty corners have been one other concern, though it has been so for each workforce right here. India has solely transformed 4 of the 21 it has earned and solely a kind of has been direct. Korea isn’t a lot better, with 4 in 18, and the brand new, bouncy turf has are available in for some criticism.
On Wednesday, the Indian goalkeepers sweated on saving PCs and shootouts, with coach Schopman placing each Savita Punia and Bichu Devi by means of the grind in anticipation of tied scores within the semifinals.
With the 2-4 positions nonetheless open, a win for Korea – at present third – will assist push it up the standings, relying on different outcomes, whilst defending champion Japan will likely be hoping to win against China to stay in second spot. Malaysia will take on Thailand within the different recreation on Thursday.
Thursday’s matches: Malaysia vs. Thailand (4 p.m.), China vs. Japan (6.15 p.m.), India vs. Korea (8.30 p.m.).
