JOHANNESBURG, July 24: England slumped to their third defeat of the Champions Challenge hockey tournament in Johannesburg, going down 2-1 to South Korea.

The result leaves the side needing to win their final pool game against New Zealand and hope the Koreans dispose of Malaysia to make further progress in the competition.

Despite falling behind to Lee Jung-Seon’s sixth goal of the tournament - a tap-in after a fast break down the right - Surbiton’s Jimmy Wallis almost equalised.

His clever deflection went just wide in the 10th minute before Korea doubled their advantage when You Hyo-Sik converted a quick counter-attack.

Just after the interval England keeper Jimi Lewis had to be at his best to deny Lee in a one-on-one and midway through the half England were given hope when forward Dave Mathews struck from a penalty corner.—PPI