South Korea stunned 2016 Olympic champions Argentina in a penalty shootout to book a quarter-final berth, while Germany also reached the last-eight stage after an easy 5-1 win over France in the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup here on Monday.
The South Koreans, who had finished third in Pool B, won 3-2 in the shootout after the two sides were locked 5-5 in regulation time in an entertaining and high-scoring crossover match at the nearfull Kalinga Stadium.
The Koreans rode an inspired performance from their 38-year-old veteran Jang Jonghyun, who converted two penalty corners, to pull off a fighting win.
Veteran captain Lee Nam Yong, 39, was also among the scorers as he struck the equalising goal in the 56th minute while Kim Sunghyun (18th) and Jeong Junwoo (20th) scored the other goals for the Koreans in the regulation time.
Nicolas Keenan (21st and 47th minutes) as well as Nicolas Della Torre (24th and 41st) struck twice each for Argentina while Maico Casella (8th minute) scored the other goal in regulation time.
South Korea are the only Asian country in the quarter finals and will face Pool C toppers the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Argentina will play against Chile in their 9th to 16th classification match on January 26 in Rourkela.
Earlier in the day, Germany pumped in three goals in the second quarter to beat France 5-1 in their crossover match and make it to the quarter finals.
Marco Miltkau (15th minute) gave Germany the lead in the first quarter with a field effort before a three-goal burst in the second.
Niklas Wellen (19th), Mats Grambusch (23rd) and Moritz Trompertz (25th) were on target in the second quarter.
Gonzalo Peillat (60th), who had won an Olympic gold representing Argentina but now plays for Germany, struck in the last minute of the match to make it five goals for the winners.
Germany, who had finished second behind defending champions Belgium, will face Pool D toppers England in the quarter finals here on Wednesday.