Canada blown away by Korean assault

If hockey was a 20-minute game, Canada would have frustrated the Koreans out if a game. But it isn’t, and the Asian giants annihilated Canada 9-2 in their Pool A match on Sunday.

If hockey was a 20-minute game, Canada would have frustrated the Koreans out if a game. But it isn’t, and the Asian giants annihilated Canada 9-2 in their Pool A match on Sunday.

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The Canadians began well, putting up a brave defence against quality Korean stick work led by Hyo Sik You. Restricting the offence to the mid-field, the Canadians seemed content in playing in their own half.

Whoever said defence was the best form of attack would have been brutally wronged by this team. A defensive lapse, a penalty corner, a clean strike to the top left corner of the goal and the Koreans were up and running in the 23rd minute to what eventually became a sublime display of goal scoring mechanics. A clinical Korean penalty stroke conversion in the 35th minute and the Canadians went into the break desperately needing their forward line to change the game.

However, a lack of creativity in the Canadian forward line spread to the defensive field as Korea exploited every gap it could find. Three field goals between the 38th and 41st minutes and three goals again in the last 10 minutes put paid to Canada’s chances. Canada, ranked No. 11, now play Argentina in a bid to break their World Cup jinx (one win in 10 matches). Korea have raced to seven points and will fancy their chances of making the final four.