Canada v China: Somebody Gets Their First Win in Johor
Two games in Johor, two beatings. Canada and China have shipped goals for fun so far, and on Tuesday afternoon at Taman Daya one of them finally gets something to show for it. Or they draw, and both stay stuck. That’s the kind of game this is.
Canada v China. Tuesday, 2:05 pm PKT, Taman Daya Hockey Stadium.
Canada have conceded a lot. A lot a lot
Start with the numbers nobody in the Canada camp will want printed. Japan put eight past them on day one, 8-1, five of those before half-time. Then Pakistan on day two, 6-2, and it was 3-1 down by the break before Rana Waleed, Asam Haider and Adeel finished the job in the second half.
The goals at the other end aren’t really the problem. Kale Simonson scored Canada’s only goal against Japan in the 51st minute when the game was long gone. Gurnoor Bhullar got one back against Pakistan on 30 minutes, and Abiram Yogeshwaran added a second at 45. So Canada can score. Keeping them out is another story — 14 conceded in two games tells it.
Canada didn’t come to Johor by accident, though. This squad is being built towards the 2027 Junior World Cup, and their own preview had Josiah Campbell saying the Asian sides play at a pace Canada just don’t see at home. Two days in, he’s been proved right the hard way.
China are the opposite problem
China can score, or at least they could on day one. Liang Haolin hit two in three minutes against Pakistan, 15th and 18th, and Wang Yubo made it 3-1 after 25 minutes. For a while, China were winning that game comfortably.
Then they conceded six in the second half and lost 8-3. Day two was quieter and worse in a different way: a 3-0 loss to the hosts Malaysia, Nabil Yusof scoring twice from penalty corners and Aferullsyah adding a late third, and China didn’t score at all. So the fast start has gone, too.
Tuesday is a simple equation. China’s attack against Canada’s defence, and whichever side stops leaking goals at the other end probably walks away with the points.
Why this one matters more than it looks
Five teams, round robin, top four reach the medal matches on Saturday 24 October, with the top two playing the final. Fifth place gets nothing, no last game, just an early flight home. Lose your first three and the maths gets brutal, fast. The winner here keeps a realistic shot at the 3rd-place match. The loser is basically playing for pride from here.
For our money, the first quarter decides it. Every bit of damage China did in Johor came early on day one, and Canada have started both games slowly and been punished for it. If Canada survive the first 20 minutes level, their structure should tell late on. If Liang Haolin scores early again, Canada could be chasing shadows for the third day running.
Tuesday at the Johor Cup: Canada v China, 2:05 pm PKT, then Japan v Malaysia, 4:35 pm PKT, both at Taman Daya Hockey Stadium, Johor Bahru. In Malaysia the tournament is on Sukan RTM (Sukan+) and RTMKlik; no international stream has been announced.
How the day finished: Day 3 round-up — Canada’s first win and Malaysia’s late show. Tournament home: the full Johor Cup guide.
