IPOH, Malaysia – In a thrilling final showdown, Japan secured victory over Pakistan in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup final, triumphing 4-1 in a penalty shootout.
The closely contested final culminated in a penalty shootout after both teams ended full time with a deadlock at two goals each.
Japan emerges victorious over Pakistan in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2024 final after a penalty shootout. #SportsSide | #SASC24 | #HockeyTwitter | #SultanAzlanShahCup | #Hockey | #PAKvsJPN pic.twitter.com/bwnoOOIjRT
— Sports Side (@TheSportsSide1) May 11, 2024
Japan executed a remarkable comeback to level the score at 2-2 after Pakistan surged ahead with two goals in the third quarter. Kazumasa Matsumoto delivered the equalizing goal in the 47th minute.
During the third quarter, Pakistan displayed resilience, overturning the deficit as Ajaz Ahmed found the net in the 34th minute, followed by Abdul Rehman’s goal in the 37th minute.
Earlier in the match, Seren Tanaka provided an early lead for Japan with a field goal in the 12th minute.
It’s noteworthy that Pakistan’s journey to the final marked a significant milestone, qualifying for the championship match for the first time in 13 years.
The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2024 witnessed the culmination of round matches on Friday, with both Japan and Pakistan emerging as the top two teams on the points table, maintaining unbeaten records throughout the round-robin matches.
Japan secured the top spot with 13 points, having won four matches and drawn one, while Pakistan claimed the second position with 11 points.
