Komazawa’s Golden Goal gives Japan victory
5/8 – KOR 3-4 (AET) JPN

Despite high temperatures, both teams started off this match at great pace knowing that victory would lift them into Sunday’s 5th place play off. It took Japan less than two minutes until they penetrated the circle for the first time, with their attack leading to a penalty corner which was converted by Rika Komazawa (3’). Japanese goalkeeper Sakiyo Asano was soon called into action when she saved Korean Lee Seon-Ok’s penalty corner drag-flick before clearing a follow-up effort. However, Korea equalized when Han Hye-Lyoung (31’) scored her first ever Champions Trophy goal. 

Just before half-time Korea took the lead after team-captain Lee Seon-Ok (34’) scored from a penalty stroke. The stroke was awarded due to an aggressive stick-tackle in the circle. Japan decided to refer to the video umpire but the original decision stood. It was the first time in the tournament that Korea had secured a half-time lead. Japan struck back in the second half when Akane Shibata (53’) managed to lift the ball into the net after Korean goalkeeper Moon Young-Hui saved a flick with her glove.

The next goal in this match came from a penalty corner. Lee Seon-Ok (64’)’s drag-flick went into the top corner of the goal and gave Korea a 3-2 advantage. Japan fought back again when Rika Komazawa (68’) tied the scores at 3-3. Korea were unhappy with the decision and used their team referral to ask whether there had been a five metre distance from a side-line-hit just before the ball was played into the circle. The video umpire confirmed that the match umpire’s decision to award the goal was correct. Towards the end of the match, Korea found themselves reduced to nine players when Cheon Eun-Bi and Hong Ji-Seon were both shown yellow cards less than 60 seconds apart.

The winning goal arrived in the second half of the extra-time, and again it was Komazawa who was the scorer. The Golden Goal - her third score of the game - gave Japan victory and also their first ever triumph over Korea in Champions Trophy hockey. The match winning strike was confirmed after umpire Wendy Stewart referred the decision to the video umpire to be absolutely sure that it was correct. 

Match Review 18. Korea - Japan 3-4 g.g.

> Japan, ranked 9th on the FIH World Ranking, will play for 5th place on Sunday vs the winner of the New Zealand – China match.

> Korea, ranked 8th on the FIH World Ranking, will play for 7th place on Sunday vs the loser of the New Zealand – China match.

> This was the first CT match decided by a goal in extra time since the 2002 Final 3-4 AUS - NED (3-4) when Mijntje Donners scored in the 73^rd minute.

> Korea remain winless in 9 knock-out matches played in CT competition, recording 7 defeats and 2 draws. The two matches that were tied, they eventually lost after penalty strokes.

> Rika Komazawa’s opening goal marked the first time Japan took the lead in 5 matches at Rosario 2012.

> Rika Komazawa scored a hat-trick and is now 4 goals at Rosario 2012, equalling Kaori Chiba’s record for most goals scored by a Japanese player in a single CT tournament first set in 2008.

> Lee Seon-Ok scored twice today. She is now on 5 goals this tournament (3PC, 2PS) and goes top of the goalscorer list level with GB's Crista Cullen (5PC).

> Korea led at half-time for the first time at Rosario 2012 (2-1).

> Korea converted 1 of 5 PCs awarded and are now on 4 for 25 in terms of penalty corners converted this tournament (16%).

> Korea have now conceded 6 PC goals from 17 penalty corners awarded against them (35%).

> Japan converted 1 of 2 PCs in this match and are now on 4 for 15 in terms of penalty corners converted this tournament (27%).
> Japan conceded 1 of 5 PCs in this match and are now on 6 PC goals from 16 penalty corners awarded against them (38%).

Match Preview 18. Korea - Japan (February 3rd, 5:30pm)

 
Head-to-Heads

> Korea and Japan have never met before in Champions Trophy competition.
> Their last encounter came at the 2010 Asian Games, where Korea beat Japan 2-0 in the 1^st round.
> This is the second all-Asian game at Rosario 2012 following Pool A match China – Japan (2-1).

Korea

> Korea are winless so far at Rosario 2012 having recorded 2 draws and 2 defeats.

> The last team to complete a CT tournament without a single victory was England in 2009.

> Korea and Japan are the teams with most goals conceded after the quarterfinals at Rosario 2012.

> Korea and the Netherlands have been awarded most (20) penalty corners up to and including the quarterfinal matches.

> Captain Lee Seon-Ok has scored 3 of Korea’s 7 goals at Rosario 2012. Other goalscorer are Cheon Eun-Bi, Kim Jong-Eun, Kim Jong-Hee and Kim Ok-Ju.

> Kim Da-Rea celebrates her 25^th birthday today. She was selected in the FIH 2011 Women’s All Star team.

> Korea are on 3 for 20 in terms of penalty corners converted this tournament (15%).

> Korea have conceded 5 PC goals from 16 penalty corners awarded against them (31%).
> Korea are ranked 8th on the FIH World Ranking.

Japan

> Japan have lost all 4 of their matches so far at Rosario 2012. They are now on a team record 5-match losing streak in CT competition.

> The last team to lose all their matches in a single CT edition was Korea in 2005

>  Japan have scored four goals in four matches at Rosario 2012. Goals scored by Rika Komazawa (PC vs China),  Akane Shibata (FG vs Netherlands), Kaori Fujio (PC vs Germany) and Ai Murakami (FG vs Germany).

> Japan are on 3 for 13 in terms of penalty corners converted this tournament (23%).

> Japan have conceded 5 PC goals from 11 penalty corners awarded against them (46%).

> Japan are the only 2012 CT team that is still to qualify for the Olympic Games in London.

> Japan aim to win their ticket to the Olympics in an Olympic Qualifier in Kakamigahara, Japan from April 25 - May 6.

> Japan are ranked 9^th on the FIH Worlds Ranking and are the lowest ranked team present at the 2012 Champions Trophy.
> At age 41, Japan’s Akemi Kato is the oldest player at the 2012 Champions Trophy. She is older than Korean coach Lim Jung-Woo (34) and Dutch coach Max Caldas (38) and is the same age as GB coach Danny Kerry (41).