Japan emerged victorious over Pakistan in a gripping 4-1 penalty shootout at the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Cup marked Pakistan’s return to the championship match for the first time in 13 years, adding a historic dimension to the intense finale.
The intense final stretched into a shootout after both teams were locked at two goals each after regulation time.
Ryoma Ooka spearheaded Japan’s winning efforts in the shootout, with his team sustaining the lead by successfully converting three subsequent attempts.
Conversely, Pakistan struggled in the shootout, missing their initial two attempts before Ammad Butt managed to score on the third.
The game saw a thrilling pace, with Japan rallying to draw 2-2. Kazumasa Matsumoto equalized in the 47th minute after Pakistan had taken the lead in the third quarter with goals from Ajaz Ahmed and Abdul Rehman.
Seren Tanaka had initially put Japan ahead with a goal at the 12-minute mark.
The 2024 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup concluded its round matches on Friday. Japan topped the points table with 13 points from four wins and one draw, while Pakistan followed closely with 11 points, securing their spot in the final undefeated round-robin stage.
