Pakistan Draw 2-2 With Japan to Qualify for Sultan of Johor Cup Final

Johor Bahru: Pakistan’s junior hockey team fought back twice from a goal down to hold Japan 2-2 on Friday and book a place in the Sultan of Johor Cup final at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium.

Hamza Fayyaz equalised in the 34th minute and Ghulam Mustafa struck in the 43rd to keep the Green Shirts level in a tense final league outing. Neither side could find the winner in the closing stages.

Both Pakistan and Japan finished the round-robin stage on seven points with an identical goal difference of +8, but Pakistan edged through on goals scored — 18 to Japan’s 16. Their league record reads two wins (8-3 over China, 6-2 over Canada), one draw and one 3-2 defeat to hosts Malaysia.

Pakistan now face undefeated Malaysia in Saturday’s final at the same venue, a rematch of their league-stage defeat.