Sports Briefs

ICE HOCKEY

Korea finishes second in women’s world hockey

Korea has finished in second place at the women’s world hockey championship in Italy, after a rout in its final round robin game.

The 17th-ranked Korea pounded on world No. 22 Poland 9-2 at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Women’s World Championship Division I Group B tournament in Asiago, Italy, on Saturday (local time), with defender Marissa Brandt scoring four goals to lead the charge.

After earning 11 points on three regulation wins and one overtime win, Korea still finished one point shy of the title at the third-highest level of the IIHF women’s championships. Host Italy finished at the top with 12 points, thanks to a 1-0 victory over China in its finale on Saturday.

By virtue of winning the Division I Group B title, Italy earned a promotion to the Division I Group A competition next year. This was Korea’s first appearance at the Division I Group B event.

It reached this level after winning the Division II Group A tournament at home last year.

Against Poland, Korea netted three goals in each of the three periods. Aside from Brandt, five other Korean players recorded multiple points.

FOOTBALL

Hwang scores 12th goal of the season for Salzburg

Red Bull Salzburg’s Korean forward Hwang Hee-chan has scored his 12th goal of the season to help his team’s miracle win in the UEFA Europa League.

Hwang scored Salzburg’s third goal in their 4-1 win over Lazio in the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal second leg at Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria, on Thursday (local time).

With the latest result, Salzburg became the first Austrian club to reach the semifinals of the second-tier European football tournament after they advanced on 6-5 aggregate.

Hwang, who missed the first leg due to yellow card accumulation, started as center forward against the Italian giants. With Salzburg leading 2-1, the 22-year-old Korean scored a goal in the 74th with his right-footed strike following a pass by Duje Caleta-Car.

It was Hwang’s 12th goal of the 2017-18 season and his second at the UEFA Europa League. He also broke his monthlong goal drought. Hwang last scored for Salzburg in February against Austria Klagenfurt in the Austria Cup quarterfinals.

Salzburg, which lost 4-2 to Lazio in the first leg, produced their fourth goal of the night in the 76th when Stefan Leiner’s header found the net. Hwang was then replaced by Fredrik Gulbrandsen in the 79th.

Salzburg held on to win the match 4-1 and joined Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Olympique Marseille to play in the UEFA Europa League semifinals.

Hwang is one of the players who is expected to represent Korea at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He has two goals in 11 international appearances.

Yonhap