India 1-0 Korea, Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 Highlights: Raheel Nets Only Goal For IND In Gritty Win Over KOR

Good Evening Indian Hockey fans! How's the Sunday energy? Welcome to the live coverage of India's opening Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 fixture against Korea at the Azlan Shah Stadium. The match has been rescheduled for a 7:30PM (IST) start due excessive rain, which saw the start time get pushed by 6 hours from the original time of 1:30PM.

India, who have staged a second string team on their return to the tournament, will take the field against Korea from 7:30PM (IST) onwards. Follow the link to find out.

Starting XI: Pawan (GK), Abhishek, Shilanand Lakra, Sukhjeet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Rabichandra Moirangthem, Rajinder Singh, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Sanjay (C), Amit Rohidas and Poovanna Chandura Boby

Following tonight's match against Korea, India are scheduled to take on Belgium (Nov 24), Malaysia (Nov 27), New Zealand (Nov 27) and Canada (Nov 29).

During India's previous appearance at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, back in 2019, they had finished as runners-up after losing tonight's opponents Korea by 4-2 (penalties) in the finale.

The Indian team have been winners of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 on 5 occasions. The 1st title came in 1985 before winning it again in 1991, 1995, 2009 and 2010 (joint winners). India have been runners-up in 2008, 2016 and 2019.

IND Vs KOR at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 has been delayed once again. The match will now start from 7:45PM (IST) onwards.

India Vs Korea, Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 can be live streamed on the FanCode app/website. The match will begin shortly.

The rain has stopped at last and both the teams are out in the field for the national anthems. India first and then Korea.

Starting XI: Kim J. (GK), Lee S.M, Yang, Bae S.M., Kim H.H, Bae J., Kim H, Lee S.W, Kim J.H, Jin and Oh

We are underway for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 opener between India and Korea. The Men in Blue will start from right to left and KOR (in red) will start from left to right in the first quarter.

India's appeal for a penalty corner has been denied by the umpire. The Men in Blue felt that the ball made contact with a Korean leg during an early attacking build-up, however, the video umpire feels other wise.

The game has floated well for India in the opening 5 minutes of this quarter and they are dominating possession with Korea constantly shifting positions to defend the attacking threats.

4 minutes left on the clock for the first quarter and the deadlock has not been broken yet. Korea have had to do much of labour work, defending all the Indian attacks from the flanks.

The first penalty corner has been awarded to India and it's the captain, who took it. However, the ball was saved by the Korean keeper, and the Umpire awarded another PC to the Men in Blue, but it has been saved as well.

Dilpreet Singh lays it on for Raheel to open the scoring for India in this match against Korea. It was a great build-up by the Men in Blue, who have retained most of the ball in this 1st quarter, which ends in favour of India.

Brilliant support from Abhishek and Sanjay as well.

The 2nd quarter is underway and Korea will have to find a way to stop the swamp of India's attacking threat, which proved to be too hot to handle in the first 15 minutes. KOR must stop India's line breaking passes and continue to defend hard, just like they did before conceding the opening goal in the 1st quarter.

No real attacking threat from Korea, who had a great chance just now to score the equalizer, but it has been saved by the Indian Goalkeeper. KOR are frequently moving up the pitch through the left-flank but the Indians have answered all the questions thrown towards them.

It remains 1-0 in favour of India at the end of the 2nd quarter as Raheel's effort in the 1st quarter remains the point of difference. Korea showed attacking intent and did well to defend the Indian attacks, but they are still behind in this game, despite having two good chances to score.

India have undoubtedly dominated the proceedings in first 30 minutes of the game, but the job is not done yet.

Possession - IND 56%-44% KOR

Attempts - IND 4-2 KOR

Shot on Goal - IND 3-1 KOR

Penalty Corners - IND 2-1 KOR

Circle Penetration - IND 3-2 KOR

3rd quarter starts in Ipoh and it has started brightly for India, who have won a penalty corner through Abhishek. Not the kind of resumption Korea were looking for.

Abhishek took the PC but the shot goes well off target.

Korea make no improvement at all in the 3rd quarter as India retain their lead ahead of an all-important 4th quarter, which will be do or die for the Koreans, who did win a few penalty corners but failed to convert the chances.

As for India - they have been solid at the back and have dominated quite well in the midfield, leaving very narrow pockets of space for KOR to attack.

Abhishek hits the side netting during India's most recent attacking build-up. He has been impressive and so has been Sanjay and the other midfielders, who have remained tight throughout the evening, leaving little to no chances for Korea to find the equalizer.

That's it. India have become the first team to win a match in the opening matchday of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025. Raheel's goal in the 1st quarter proved to be the point of difference as the Blues marched towards victory over the tournament's most successful outfit.

It was a fantastic performance from the Indian midfield, who first crafted the opening goal, assisted by Dilpreet Singh, and also defended whenever needed.

Disappointing night for Korea though, they had 6 penalty corners, but could not convert the chances into goals. Pawan was solid for Indian in the goal as he made a couple of crucial saves across quarters.

Possession - IND 68%-32% KOR

Attempts - IND 15-7 KOR

Shot on Goal - IND 8-5 KOR

Penalty Corners - IND 6-6 KOR

Up next for India are world number 3 Belgium in their next Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 on Monday, November 24 at the Azlan Shah Stadium. That's it for today, see you in another live blog. Goodbye for now.