Korea beats Japan to reach women's hockey final

Home > Sports > More

Korea beats Japan to reach women's hockey final

Published: 05 Oct. 2023, 21:41

PAIK JI-HWAN
paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr

The Korean women’s hockey team beat Japan 4-3 in a semifinal penalty shootout on Thursday to book a spot in the Asian Games final.

Korea went ahead at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Stadium in Hangzhou, China, with Seo Jung-eun scoring from a penalty corner to end the first quarter 1-0.

No goals followed in the second quarter and Park Seung-ae’s goal in the third quarter took the score to 2-0.

With the 2-0 score by the end of the quarter, Korea’s victory seemed promising.

The fourth quarter saw the game change direction, with Kobayakawa Shiho pulling one back for Japan and Oikawa Shikori making it 2-2 with a penalty stroke.

It came down to the penalty shootout in which five players from each team take alternating penalty strokes against the opponent’s goalkeeper.

After four shots each, the score was tied at 3-3 when Cho Hye-jin stepped up to take Korea's final shot. Cho made it, giving Korea a 4-3 lead before goalkeeper Kim Eun-ji denied Suzuki Miyu’s shot to end the game and send Korea through to the final against China on Saturday.

If Korea win, it would be the country's sixth women's hockey gold. The last time they topped the podium was in 2014 after a victory over China.

Korea may see one more medal, as the men’s team is set to play a bronze medal game also against China on Friday.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]