Pakistan will play with South Korea in the first semi final of the ninth Asia Cup Hockey Tournament at Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium, Ipoh on Friday.
Pakistan entered the semi final after finishing top in Group A while South Korea qualified after finishing second in Group B.
South Korea have won three and Pakistan two in five previous matches. South Korea scored 11 goals and conceded 16 in these matches.
The last match was played in March 2013 in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and was ended with 2-2 draw.
India will have to guard against complacency when they take on hosts Malaysia, a side which is capable of springing up surprises, in the second semi-final.
Unlike their opponents, the Indians will be high on confidence after securing their semi-final berth with an unbeaten record. The Sardar Singh-led side spanked debutants Oman 8-0, followed by wins over defending champions South Korea (2-0) and Bangladesh (9-1) to top Pool B.
Malaysia, on the other hand, finished second in Pool A after they won against Chinese Taipei and Japan but lost to Pakistan in their Pool A engagements.
Fully aware that two more wins in this Asia Cup would ensure their ticket for next year‘s World Cup at The Hague, Netherlands, the 11th ranked Indians cannot afford to relax in the business end of the eight-nation tournament, and especially against an unpredictable side like Malaysia.
India, who never missed out on a World Cup berth since the tournament‘s introduction in 1971, will like to avoid the repeat of yet another debacle after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where the Indian team had failed to qualify for the first time in the history of the game.
India have a good record against Malaysia in internantional as well as in Asia Cup matches. They have won 71, lost 14 and draw 19 in 104 matches played against Malaysia.
The men in blue never lost a match against India in Asia Cup. They have won four and draw on in five matches played against hosts.
PAKISTAN-SOUTH KOREA IN ASIA CUP:
Year Venue Result Score
1985 Dhaka Pakistan beat South Korea 7-0 (semi final)
1989 New DelhiPakistan beat South Korea 5-1 (semi final)
1993 Hiroshima South Korea beat Pakistan 4-0 (semi final)
1999 Kuala Lumpur South Korea beat Pakistan 5-4 (final)
2009 Kuantan South Korea beat Pakistan 1-0 (final)
INDIA-MALAYSIA MATCHES:
Type M IW MW D GI GM
International 104 71 14 19 295 136
Asia Cup 5 4 – 1 13 5
INDIA-MALAYSIA IN ASIA CUP:
Year Venue Result Score
1982 KarachiIndia beat Malaysia 2-0
1985 Dhaka India beat Malaysia 3-0
1994 HiroshimaIndia beat Malaysia 3-2 (semi final)
1999 Kuala LumpurIndia draw Malaysia 1-1
1999 Kuala LumpurIndia beat Malaysia 4-2 (for third place)
