Pakistan dash M’sia’s hopes to Asian Champions Trophy final

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia failed to advance into the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament final match after losing 1-3 to three-time winner, Pakistan in the penalty shoot-out of the semi-finals match at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat, Oman on Saturday (Sunday in Malaysia).

The match had to be decided in the penalty shootout after both teams were tied 4-4 after regulation time, according to the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) Facebook page.

With the defeat, Malaysia will meet the 2018 Asian Games winner, Japan in the third/fourth placing match to be played yesterday after the latter lost 2-3 to reigning champion, India in another semi-final match.

Malaysia took the lead in the second minute after national forward, Faizal Saari converted a penalty corner, only to see Pakistan bouncing back and scoring three goals via Muhammad Irfan Jr’s field goal in the sixth minute, penalty corner by Aleem Bilal (12th minute) and a field goal from Abu Bakar Mahmood, three minutes later.

Aleem scored his second goal in the match via a penalty corner in the 20th minute, but the national side manage to claw their way back, via two quick field goals from Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Tengku Abdul Jalil in the 42nd minute and Nik Muhammad Aiman Nik Rozemi in the 44th minute, before Faizal scored the equalising goal via a penalty corner in the 56th minute.

Nik Muhammad Aiman is the only player who scored the goal during the penalty shootout as three others - Faizal, Muhammad Firhan Ashari and Muhammad Shahril Saabah failed to do so.

Six countries are taking part in the tournament, namely India, Pakistan, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia as well as Oman as the hosts.