Pakistan continued their impressive journey in the Men’s U18 Asia Cup 2025, clinching a nail-biting 4-3 victory over Malaysia in a dramatic semifinal that was decided by a penalty shootout at the National Hockey Training Centre on Friday.
The high-stakes match concluded with a 3-3 draw in regular time, necessitating a shootout to determine the winner. In the crucial moments, Pakistan maintained their composure as goalkeeper Ghulam Mustafa made a pivotal save on Malaysia’s final attempt, securing his team’s place in the final.
The Green Shirts got off to a sensational start, scoring twice within the first eight minutes. Abdullah Awan opened the scoring with a well-executed penalty corner, followed by Hasan Shahbaz, who doubled the lead with a field goal.
However, Malaysia responded strongly, netting three consecutive goals to take a 3-2 lead. Hasan Shahbaz then struck again to level the scores at 3-3, a scoreline that remained unchanged until the end of regulation time.
In the shootout, Pakistan converted their first three attempts while Malaysia missed one, giving the Green Shirts a 3-2 advantage. A missed fourth attempt by Pakistan allowed Malaysia to equalize. On the fifth shot, Ali Hanzala calmly slotted the ball home, and Ghulam Mustafa’s decisive save on Malaysia’s final attempt propelled Pakistan into the final.
Earlier in the tournament, Pakistan showcased dominant form. They kicked off their campaign with a resounding 8-0 victory over Hong Kong, followed by a commanding 9-0 win against Sri Lanka. In their third match, they defeated Bangladesh 6-3, effectively securing a spot in the semifinals.
In the quarterfinals, Pakistan outclassed China with a 2-1 victory, solidifying their place among the final four.
It is noteworthy that the Green Shirts will face Japan in the grand finale of the tournament on Sunday at the same venue, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the competition.Bookmark messageCopy messageExport
