FIH Nations Cup: Pakistan stay in hunt for semis with win over Japan

Spirited Pakistan came back from 2-1 down to beat Japan 3-2 to boost their semi-finals chances in the FIH Nations Cup being held at the National Hockey Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

In the enthralling contest on Monday, Sufyan Khan scored the winner for the Green Shirts in the fourth quarter to seal an emphatic maiden win in the eight-nation event.

“The team played extremely well today,” Pakistan team manager and former Olympian Usman Khan told Nukta after the win.

“In the previous game we were leading and today, too, the boys put in their best. In the meeting yesterday we had told the boys how to play as we had received four to five cards in the previous game against Malaysia and we played better hockey today,” Usman said.

“Now we are inching towards the semi-finals and the actual position in Group B will become clear after the game between New Zealand and Malaysia to be played today,” Usman said.

In the hotly-contested battle, Pakistan took lead in the first quarter when Ghazanfar Ali scored a fantastic field goal.

However, soon afterwards, Japan levelled the score through a fine strike from Kazumasa Matsumoto. Japan took lead in the same quarter when Koji Yamasaki landed a beautiful goal. At the end of the first quarter Japan were leading 2-1.

In the second quarter, a grueling fight was witnessed but neither side scored any goal.

In the third quarter, Pakistan fought back strongly when Waheed Ashraf Rana netted the equalizer which made the game interesting with 2-2 scoreline.

Both sides made frantic efforts in the fourth quarter and it was Pakistan which did the damage when their key drag-flick specialist Sufyan Khan scored the winner eight minutes from full time which also proved to be decisive strike of the show.

The win took Pakistan to the group summit with four points. Pakistan will now face New Zealand in their final group show on Wednesday.

On Sunday, Pakistan had held hosts Malaysia 3-3 in an enthralling contest.

In the event, eight nations have entered which have been placed in two different groups.

France, South Africa, Korea and Wales are in Group A while New Zealand, Pakistan, Malaysia and Japan have been clubbed in Group B. The top two teams from each pool will qualify for the semi-finals while the remaining four nations will then play in the classification matches.

The winners of this event will qualify for the FIH Pro League Season 7.