Pakistan edge out Canada 5-4 in Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Cup clash

IPOH (Monitoring Desk): Pakistan continued their dominant run as they defeated Canada 5-4, inching further closer to the finals of the ongoing Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2024 here on Wednesday.

The undefeated Pakistan side is sitting at the top of the points table with 10 points after four games in the tournament.

Pakistan struggled early on as Canada scored two goals in 17 minutes to take a dominant lead, however, Abu Bakr Mahmood brought Pakistan back into the game with a brace.

Arshad Liaqat, Rana Waheed Ashraf and Ghazanfar Ali followed suit and set up Pakistan’s 5-4 victory. For Canada, Sean Davis scored two, while Harbir Sindhu and Avjot Buttar scored one each.

Notably, Pakistan, as well as Japan, will confirm their place in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2024 final if the latter beat Malaysia later today.

Pakistan held Japan for a 1-1 stalemate and continued their unbeaten run in the ongoing Sultan Azlan Shah Cup yesterday.

Pakistan and Japan went hard at each other from the word go but neither of the sides could manage to get the upper hand and played out the first two quarters goalless.

Japan then got the reward for their precision in the third quarter when Ken Nagayoshi converted a penalty corner in the 33rd minute.

Japan’s narrow lead persisted for the conclusion of the third quarter while the fourth quarter was also nearing its end, indicating at the possibility of Pakistan’s first defeat in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.

But Rana Waheed Ashraf turned the tide for Pakistan and lifted them to level the thrilling match after a perfectly crafted penalty corner in the last minute.

Earlier this week, Pakistan crushed South Korea 4-0 to register their second consecutive victory in the ongoing Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, after a flying start to their campaign with a nerve-testing 5-4 victory over Malaysia.

Pakistan squad for Sultan Azlan Shah Cup

Goalkeepers: Abdullah, Muneebur Rehman.

Defenders: Usama Bashir, Ehtisham Aslam, Mohammad Abdullah, Sufiyan, Abu Bakar (vice-captain), Ammad Butt (captain).

Midfielders: Salman Razzaq, Arshad Liaquat, Moin Shakeel, Zakria Hayat, Murtaza Yaqoob, Ghazanfar Ali.

Forwards: Abdul Rehman (Sr), Abdul Hanan, Rana Waheed, Ejaz Ahmad.

Standbys: Akmal Hussain, Aqeel Ahmad, Arbaz, Hammad Anjum, Abdul Rehman (Jr), Abdul Manan, Rooman.