Malaysia Beat Pakistan 4-3 on Shootout to Win Sultan of Johor Cup After 2-2 Final
Fifteen years. That’s how long Malaysia waited, and they ended it the hardest way possible.
The Young Tigers beat Pakistan 4-3 in a shootout at Taman Daya on Saturday night after the Sultan of Johor Cup final finished 2-2. It’s Malaysia’s second title, and their first since the inaugural edition in 2011.
Pakistan had the game in their hands early. Waleed Rana, back in the side after his suspension, smashed home a penalty corner in the 19th minute, and Muhammad Usman made it 2-0 with a field goal four minutes later. At that point the final looked like it was heading Pakistan’s way.
It didn’t stay that way. Adam Johari pulled one back from a penalty corner in the 25th minute, and Dheeressh Gunaseelan levelled it from another set piece in the 49th. Neither side found a winner in normal time, so it went to the shootout, where Malaysia held their nerve and Aferull Syah scored the deciding penalty.
For our money, this is the result the tournament deserved. Malaysia were the only unbeaten side all week, they’d already beaten Pakistan 3-2 in the group stage, and they did it again when it mattered most, in front of their own crowd.
Pakistan will be gutted, and they shouldn’t be. They came into this final through the tightest of tiebreakers, level with Japan on points and goal difference and through only on goals scored, 18 to 16. They led a final 2-0. They just ran into a home side that refused to lose.
The final standings tell the week’s story plainly. Malaysia champions, Pakistan second, Japan third after their 5-0 bronze-medal win over Canada earlier on Saturday, Canada fourth, China fifth.
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