Hosts Holland missed out on a podium finish as an enterprising South Korea upset them 2-1 in the Rabo Trophy hockey tournament in Amstelveen on Wednesday.
The Busan Asian Games champions who led 1-0 at the break played at a furious pace coupled with courage and conviction to book their place for the bronze medal play-off on Sunday.
Korea scored through Lee Jong Soon from their fourth penalty corner and striker Yoon Sung Hoon (46th minute) while Roderick Weusthof found the mark for the Dutch in the 36th minute.
It was virtually a transformed Korean side after their 7-1 whitewash by Australia on Wednesday. They not only played with speed and skill, but exhibited top class fluency both in their onslaughts and defence.
They began on an electric note forcing three corners in the first fifteen minutes, but all of them were well saved by Dutch custodian Guus Vogels. In addition two attempts from strikers Seo Jong Ho and You Ho Sik went wide.
The Koreans however shot into the lead when Lee Jong Soon flicked past Vogels, thus silencing the huge vociferous local crowd.
The Dutch were quite disjointed in the first half and the only near chance to score came midway, but Mathijs Brouwer missed the mark.
Holland picked up their game in the second session and made an immediate foray into the rival circle, thereby earning a penalty corner. Weusthof made no mistake as he beat Ko Dong Sik with a low flick to the left (1-1).
Holland, who needed to get full points, after drawing with England yesterday, for a medal game, were unable to cope with the tenacious Korean defence despite numerous raids from both flanks.
However, the Koreans were in no mood to oblige and in the 45th minute found the match winner from a superb reverse hit from the top of the circle by Yoon Song Hoon and thus register the upset.
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