India beats Korea to win Asia Cup, seals World Cup 2026 berth
India ended an eight-year wait to be crowned the continental champion, winning 4-1 against defending champion Korea in the final of the Asia Cup here on Sunday and assuring itself of a spot at the 2026 World Cup.
While the scoreline might suggest an easy win, it was anything but. Korea fought back and fought hard, with India pulling ahead on the dint of individual brilliance and tactical control.
It was not the kind of free-flowing game India displayed in different measures in its last two games, but the team adapted to a vastly different and difficult opposition, switching flanks and rotating continuously in the midfield to keep creating space.
The massive victory against China the day before might have raised public expectations, but coach Craig Fulton had insisted his boys would play the game, not the occasion, be clinical, and get better in certain areas. The team stepped up to the task, not as dominant but equally clinical.
AS IT HAPPENED: IND VS KOREA FINAL HIGHLIGHTS
The start was electric, Sukhjeet receiving Harmanpreet’s pass from near the dotted line and his reverse shot flying into the Korean goal 31 seconds into the game, India’s fastest goal of the competition.
Chances were created, not through brute superiority but clinical accuracy. Another aerial from Harmanpreet in the 28th minute, brought down perfectly by Sanjay inside the circle, saw Dilpreet make it 2-0 at half time.
India could have added another, but for Jugraj’s penalty stroke in the ninth minute, pushed away by South Korean goalkeeper Jaehan Kim – deservedly named the goalkeeper of the tournament – with his stick.
Post break, Korea started pushing back, hoping to bounce back similarly to how it did against Malaysia. It also got a series of PCs, but India’s defence held firm. Shaky and erratic at the start of the tournament, the defence tightened up, and the team was a lot more disciplined.
Fulton had also wanted his players to stay composed, not get carried away by a crowd baying for a goal every time India had the ball, and they duly obliged, keeping their heads low and minds focussed on the task at hand, avoiding showboating or hurrying for the shot. It created fewer chances upfront but more on-target shots.
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Korea’s plan to open channels on the flanks by drawing in the Indian forwards through the middle, which worked against Malaysia, did not work. The Indian midfield spread wide to cut it down and found ways to keep feeding the forwards.
A 45th-minute PC saw Harmanpreet’s shot saved, but the resulting long corner saw Dilpreet drag the ball in and score for his second. A comfortable two-goal margin going into the last 15 minutes became 4-1 with Amit Rohidas’ PC, and while Dain Son pulled one back a minute later, Korea had no chance of coming back.
Published on Sep 07, 2025