<p>The Indian football team rounded off a miserable campaign in the AFC Challenge Cup, blanked 0-4 by strong contenders DPR Korea in their last league encounter at the Dashrath stadium here on Tuesday. <br /><br /></p>.<p>This was India’s third defeat in a row in a competition in which the team failed to score a single goal while conceding eight. <br /><br />Korea’s goals came through Jon Kwang Ik (fourth minute), Ri Kwang Hyok (34th minute), Pak Nam Chol (58th minute) and Ri Chol Myong (70th minute). <br /><br />The Koreans, who have won all their three league matches, topped Group B and moved into the semifinals with nine points. <br /><br />Even prior to the kick-off, Korea stayed overwhelming favourites. <br /><br />Apart from their superior FIFA ranking, they boasted of seven World Cuppers who had represented their country in the 2010 edition. <br /><br />Korea never allowed the Indians to settle down as they struggled to match the east-Asian nation’s pace. <br /><br />Defensive lapses only added to India’s misery and the only scoring chance for the team came in the 39th minute of the match. <br /><br />But skipper Sunil Chhetri’s left-footer, after being fed by Francis Fernandes, missed the target.<br /> <br />Defensive lapse<br /><br />Korea surged ahead early when Jon Kwang Ik capitalised on a defensive lapse to slot home and Ri Kwang Hyok doubled the lead in the 34th minute. <br /><br />It was a familiar script even after the change-over. Coach Savio Medeira did introduce fresh legs but even that didn’t help. <br /><br />Pak Nam Chol and Ri Chol Myong completed the rout in the 58th and 70th minutes respectively. <br /><br />In another match Philippines defeated Tajikistan (2-1) and qualified for the semifinals as the second team from the Group B. <br /><br />India had lost to Tajikistan 0-2 in the opening match of the competition while the defending champions went down by the same margin to Philippines in the second encounter.</p>
<p>The Indian football team rounded off a miserable campaign in the AFC Challenge Cup, blanked 0-4 by strong contenders DPR Korea in their last league encounter at the Dashrath stadium here on Tuesday. <br /><br /></p>.<p>This was India’s third defeat in a row in a competition in which the team failed to score a single goal while conceding eight. <br /><br />Korea’s goals came through Jon Kwang Ik (fourth minute), Ri Kwang Hyok (34th minute), Pak Nam Chol (58th minute) and Ri Chol Myong (70th minute). <br /><br />The Koreans, who have won all their three league matches, topped Group B and moved into the semifinals with nine points. <br /><br />Even prior to the kick-off, Korea stayed overwhelming favourites. <br /><br />Apart from their superior FIFA ranking, they boasted of seven World Cuppers who had represented their country in the 2010 edition. <br /><br />Korea never allowed the Indians to settle down as they struggled to match the east-Asian nation’s pace. <br /><br />Defensive lapses only added to India’s misery and the only scoring chance for the team came in the 39th minute of the match. <br /><br />But skipper Sunil Chhetri’s left-footer, after being fed by Francis Fernandes, missed the target.<br /> <br />Defensive lapse<br /><br />Korea surged ahead early when Jon Kwang Ik capitalised on a defensive lapse to slot home and Ri Kwang Hyok doubled the lead in the 34th minute. <br /><br />It was a familiar script even after the change-over. Coach Savio Medeira did introduce fresh legs but even that didn’t help. <br /><br />Pak Nam Chol and Ri Chol Myong completed the rout in the 58th and 70th minutes respectively. <br /><br />In another match Philippines defeated Tajikistan (2-1) and qualified for the semifinals as the second team from the Group B. <br /><br />India had lost to Tajikistan 0-2 in the opening match of the competition while the defending champions went down by the same margin to Philippines in the second encounter.</p>