2nd Hockey Test: South Korea upstage Hockeyroos 2-1

South Korea turned on the style to overcome hosts Australia by the odd goal in three in the second of the four-match hockey Test series at the Perth Hockey Stadium in Perth on Thursday.

The Redshirts showed resilience after losing the opening Test 2-4.

The Asian giants deserve all the praise for the win given the fact that they clawed their way back from an early deficit, much to the disappointment of the home fans.

Australian supporters went berserk when captain Madonna Byth, who is making a comeback to the side after missing the national team’s tour to South Africa earlier this year, slammed home from the left corner off a first minute penalty corner.

The Korean responded strongly, essaying nifty attacks on both flanks. They forced two penalty corners in the 6^th and 13^th minutes respectively, but failed to make the most of them.

The perseverance of the Red Brigade paid off when captain Park Mi Hyun – the country’s most capped player – sounded the board in the 17^th minute to make the scoreline 1-1.

Both teams were locked 1-1 at half-time.

Australian eves started on an offensive note in the second stanza, earning as many as four penalty corners, but goals eluded them as the Korean defence held firm.

The final ten minutes of play was full of end-to-end action.

South Korea pulled ahead in the 65^th minute when Kim Young Dan converted a penalty stroke in the 65^th minute.

The Hockeyroos pressed for the equalizer but the Koreans held out for a 2-1 triumph.

The four-match hockey series is tied 1-1 with the third Test slated for April 27.

It may be worth recalling that South Korea had a mixed bag in the two-leg Four Nations hockey tournaments held across several venues – Whangarei, Hamilton and Tauranga in New Zealand, which also featured hosts New Zealand, world champions Argentina and the United States.

The Redshirts stormed into the final showdown in Whangarei after upstaging world champions Argentina 4-3 in the league phase.

The Asian powerhouse earlier stunned hosts New Zealand 4-3 in the tournament opener before they were surprisingly handed a 1-2 defeat by the United States.

South Korea, however, cut a disappointing day in office, in the title tilt against New Zealand with the Black Sticks emerging clinical 3-0 winners.

However, the South Korea put up a below-par showing in the second leg held in Hamilton and Tauranga. They did start well, spanking the United States 4-1 before their challenge fizzled out. The Redshirts lost to Argentina 2-4 before being humiliated by New Zealand 1-5. The Asian giants lost to the USA 1-0 in the bronze medal play-off tie to settle for the last spot among four nations.

New Zealand had won the first leg, while Argentina won the second leg.