Malaysia v Pakistan Johor Cup Final Preview: Rematch, 5:05pm PKT Saturday

Saturday, 5:05 pm PKT, Taman Daya Stadium. Malaysia against Pakistan for the Sultan of Johor Cup. And it’s a rematch of the game of the tournament so far.

Wednesday’s group meeting finished 3-2 to Malaysia, and it was as dramatic as it sounds. Pakistan led 2-1 at the 43rd minute through Adeel’s brace. Malaysia scored twice in the last five minutes through Muhammad Salihe and Naaveenesh Panicker to steal it, with Pakistan reduced by Rana Waleed’s 51st-minute red card. That result is why Saturday matters so much to both sides.

Malaysia’s week has been close to flawless. They beat China 3-0, came from behind twice to beat Japan 4-2, edged Pakistan 3-2, and closed the group with a 6-1 cruise past Canada on Friday night (Chandi gave Canada a shock early lead at 5′; Malaysia answered with six, Panicker and Salihe among them again). Four wins from four, top of the table on 12 points. Panicker has five goals and is their top scorer. Salihe has three. This is Malaysia’s first Johor Cup final in 13 years, since 2013.

Their coach, Nor Saiful Zaini, called Wednesday “a drama” and admitted luck played its part. “Towards the end of the game, luck was a little on our side, because they only had eight players on the pitch and we had eleven,” he said. He also flagged the one real concern: back-to-back games and tired legs. “We do not want to be tired from back-to-back games,” he said, talking about managing the squad through Friday and into the final.

Pakistan’s road here took the long way. Eight goals past China, six past Canada, the 2-3 loss to Malaysia, then Friday’s 2-2 with Japan that sent them through on goals-for, 18 scored to Japan’s 16. The attack has been the story: 18 goals in four games, and both equalisers on Friday came from penalty corners when Japan had the momentum.

The open question is Waleed. His red card on Wednesday was for a stick incident on a Malaysian player’s forehead, and Malaysian keeper Adib Amsyar had already saved his penalty stroke in the 12th minute of that game. Whether the red card keeps him out of the final is still unconfirmed. Pakistan will want him available against a side that scored from none of its eight penalty corners on Wednesday but still found a way to win.

The PHF’s media cell put it simply on Friday: “ONE MORE STEP TO GLORY!”

Our take

Malaysia are favourites, at home, with a perfect record and a coach who has managed the week smartly. But Pakistan’s attack travels, their corners are lethal, and they have a genuine grievance from Wednesday. For our money, the first 15 minutes decide it. Pakistan started fast on Wednesday and led at 43′. If they do that again and keep eleven on the pitch this time, Malaysia’s perfect week is in real danger.

Before the final, Japan and Canada play for bronze at 2:05 pm PKT. The games have been airing live on RTM Sukan.