Pakistan hold their nerve in Johor: 2-2 with Japan is enough for the final
Pakistan are in the Sultan of Johor Cup final.
It wasn’t pretty, and for a long stretch it looked like it might slip away, but the 2-2 draw with Japan on the last day of the round robin did exactly what Pakistan needed. One point. Goals-for done the talking. Muhammad Ammad’s young side face hosts Malaysia in Saturday’s final.
Let’s be honest: this one went the long way round.
Japan took the lead against the run of the early pressure. Seia Yamada struck in the 18th minute, a field goal that silenced the small Pakistan contingent in the stands. Half-time: 1-0 down, and a Malaysia-sized problem looming.
Then the corners started to work. Hamza Fayyaz dragged Pakistan level in the 34th minute, and suddenly the green shirts were breathing again. But Japan weren’t done. Kazuki Nakai fired them back in front at 42 minutes, 2-1, and Pakistan had less than 20 minutes to save their tournament.
They needed a goal. Ghulam Mustafa delivered it a minute later. A 43rd-minute penalty corner, buried, 2-2. And that, as it turned out, was the final.
The table did the rest. Pakistan and Japan finished locked together on 7 points, +8 goal difference each. Goals for: Pakistan 18, Japan 16. That’s the tiebreaker, and it’s sending Pakistan to the final.
For our money, Pakistan earned this across the whole week, not just tonight. They put eight past China, six past Canada, and pushed Malaysia all the way in a 3-2 loss. The young side can score. Whether they can hold out against a Malaysia side that hasn’t lost a game is Saturday’s question, and it’s a big one.
Malaysia warm up for the final by hitting Canada for six
The hosts, meanwhile, did what hosts do. Malaysia 6-1 Canada, and it could have been more.
Canada actually scored first. Navdip Chandi gave the visitors a shock lead in the 5th minute, and for about two minutes the tournament had a pulse. Then Malaysia woke up, and the floodgates opened.
Mohd Muhammad levelled at 7 minutes, Naaveenesh Panicker made it 2-1 at 15, and Muhammad Mohd’s penalty corner at 22 had it 3-1 by half-time. M Rahuul (30′), Dheeressh Gunaseelan (41′, PC) and Muhammad Salihe (45′, PC) finished the job. Malaysia topped the table with a perfect 12 points from four games, 16 scored and only 5 conceded.
That’s the team Pakistan have to beat now. On Malaysia’s ice, in front of Malaysia’s crowd. Nothing about this will be easy.
Final round-robin table
1. Malaysia — P4 W4 D0 L0, 16-5, 12 pts / 2. Pakistan — P4 W2 D1 L1, 18-10, 7 pts / 3. Japan — P4 W2 D1 L1, 16-8, 7 pts / 4. Canada — P4 W1 D0 L3, 7-22, 3 pts / 5. China — P4 W0 D0 L4, 6-18, 0 pts
Pakistan finish second ahead of Japan on goals scored (18 vs 16), with goal difference identical.
Saturday’s medal matches (all PKT)
Bronze medal match: Japan v Canada, 2:05 pm / Final: Malaysia v Pakistan, 5:05 pm
Two rematches to settle everything. Japan beat Canada 8-1 in the group stage, so the bronze looks their game to lose. And the final is the one everyone wanted: hosts versus Pakistan, winner takes the Sultan of Johor Cup.
SportsCursor will have live updates from both games. Don’t miss it.
Related: Pakistan Hockey.
