India crushed South Korea 8-1 in the Asian Champions Trophy semi-final in Mohali on Wednesday, with Shilanand Lakra and Dilpreet Singh scoring twice each. The defending champions led 6-1 at half-time and now face Japan in Thursday’s final after Japan beat Malaysia on penalties.
Mohali, India: The home side had scored 34 goals in five league matches, and South Korea’s hopes of stopping that run lasted only as long as the opening quarter. By half-time the semi-final had stopped being a contest and the scoreboard read 6-1.
Lakra opens, Korea answer, Harmanpreet restores order
India struck in the fourth minute. Shilanand Lakra got a touch to Dilpreet’s cross at close range and the hosts were ahead before the crowd had settled. Korea levelled through Han Sangjun in the ninth minute, a deflection that beat goalkeeper Suraj Karkera and briefly made the evening interesting.
It did not stay that way. Captain Harmanpreet Singh also scored in the ninth minute, with a drag-flick from a penalty corner, and Lakra added his second in the 13th. India led 3-1 at the end of the first quarter, and Korea never again looked like closing the gap.
Three goals in four minutes decide it
The second quarter belonged to Sukhjeet Singh and Dilpreet. Sukhjeet reverse-flicked home from Sanjay’s pass, and Dilpreet followed within seconds, stretching to guide the ball in. Both goals came around the 21st minute. Dilpreet then controlled Harmanpreet’s long aerial pass in the 25th minute and lifted a reverse-flick over the goalkeeper for his second.
India went into the break 6-1 up, and the second half became a procession. Angad Bir Singh scored in the 36th minute after a run down the right and a cross from Jarmanpreet Singh. Vivek Sagar Prasad completed the scoring in the 54th with a solo run and a reverse hit from the right.
A familiar opponent in the final
The result extends India’s unbeaten run in the tournament. They won all five league matches, including an 8-0 win over the same opponent in Jalandhar, and beat Japan 4-1 in the group stage. Japan reached the final after a goalless draw with Malaysia in the other semi-final, then won the shoot-out 5-3.
India, the defending champions, have won the title five times. Victory over Japan at 7 pm IST on Thursday in Mohali would give them a record sixth.
Result (Asian Champions Trophy semi-final, Mohali, 4 November 2026): India 8 (Shilanand Lakra 4’, 13’; Harmanpreet Singh 9’; Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh c.21’; Dilpreet Singh 25’; Angad Bir Singh 36’; Vivek Sagar Prasad 54’) beat South Korea 1 (Han Sangjun 9’). Half-time: 6-1.
Other semi-final: Japan 0-0 Malaysia (Japan won 5-3 on penalties). Final: India v Japan, Thursday 5 November, 7 pm IST.
