Pakistan secured its first victory in the FIH Nations Cup after a vital 3-2 win over Japan in a fiercely contested encounter.
Pakistan maintained a narrow edge throughout the game with goals from Rana Waheed Ashraf, Ali Ghazanfar, and Sufyan Khan. However, late strikes from Japan’s Matsumoto Kazumasa and Yamasaki Koji made the game interesting in dying moments. Nevertheless, Pakistan’s defense withstood the late pressure, preserving the lead and earning full points.
This victory improves Pakistan’s position in the tournament standings, keeping their hopes alive for a strong finish. The team’s spirited display against Japan followed a dramatic 3-3 draw with Malaysia in their opening match.
In that earlier fixture, Pakistan initially dominated, racing to a 2-0 lead in the first quarter and extending it to 3-0 in the fourth. Goals from Ahmed Nadeem, Abdul Rehman, and Rana Waheed Ashraf appeared to secure victory.
However, Malaysia launched a stunning comeback, scoring three goals in the final quarter to equalize, leaving the Green Shirts to reflect on missed opportunities.
