South Korea 7 Hong Kong 1

India 10 Bangladesh 0

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23: India warmed up for their match against arch rivals Pakistan tomorrow with an effortless 10-0 win over Bangladesh at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

The result leaves both India and Pakistan tied on points as well as goal difference and goals scored/conceded.

This sets up an intriguing encounter between the two countries which will see the winner top Group B.

India got their goals through Dilip Tirkey (8, 55), Deepak Thakur (11), Vikram Pillay (27), Dhanraj Pillay (33), Sandeep Michael (35), Gagan Ajit Singh (37,50), Prabhjot Singh (48) and Baljit Singh Dhillon (54)

The match will be the fifth meeting between the two countries this year with honours even at two wins apiece.

“We look forward to an entertaining match that will enhance the reputation of the sport worldwide,” said Pakistan coach Tahir Zaman when asked about their match against India.

“There is always extra excitement when the two countries meet and we hope to go one better against the Indians.”

Meanwhile in an earlier match South Korea put themselves in the running for a place in the semi finals when they whipped Hong Kong 7-1.

The win gave South Korea, who are defending the title they won also in Kuala Lumpur four years ago, four points after two matches following their 1-1 draw against Malaysia last Sunday.

They take on pool leaders Japan tomorrow (Wednesday) and only need one point to make the last four at the expense of Malaysia.

Though Korea opened scoring as early as the 2nd minute through Lee Gye Sung, the avalanche of goals never did come as expected.

In fact, Hong Kong drew level in the 19th minute when Ali Asghar was first to the ball after a penalty corner attempt by Ali Akhbar and slotted it past Korean goalkeeper Lim Jong Chun.

But Korea hit back the very next minute through Lim Jung Woo whose attempt from an acute angle crashed into the roof of the net giving Hong Kong keeper Man Chi Yan no chance at all.

You Hyo Sik made it 3-1 in the 27th minute but the Hong Kong defence stood firm to deny the Koreans any goals until halftime.

South Korea missed an opportunity to extend the lead when Kim Kyung Seok muffed a penalty stroke in the 41st minute.

But the Koreans turned their domination of proceedings into goals by scoring at two minute intervals through Seo Jong Ho (54th minute), Kim Jung Chul (56th minute) and Lee Jung Seon (58th minute) to make it 6-1.

Korea added another goal in the 67th minute when Jang Jong Hyun scored from a penalty corner.

Table matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Group A

Japan 2 2 0 0 10 5 6

South Korea 2 1 1 0 8 2 4

Malaysia 2 0 1 1 3 4 1

Hong Kong 2 0 0 2 4 14 0

Group B

India 2 2 0 0 15 1 6

Pakistan 2 2 0 0 15 1 6

China 2 0 0 2 2 12 0

Bangladesh 2 0 0 2 0 18 0

—AFP