Pakistan finished their Hero Asian Champions Trophy campaign with a convincing 5-2 win against Korea, securing the Bronze Medal at the Moqi Hockey Training Base in China. With goals from Sufyan Khan (38′, 49′), Hannan Shahid (39′, 54′), and Rooman (45′), Pakistan made a strong comeback after their semifinal defeat to hosts China. Korea’s goals came from Jungjun Lee (16′) and Jihun Yang (40′).
First Half: Korea Takes Early Control
- Korea Strikes First: Jungjun Lee opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a brilliant solo effort, putting Korea ahead 1-0.
- Pakistan’s Struggles: Korea dominated possession, entering Pakistan’s circle seven times in the second quarter, while Pakistan missed two key scoring opportunities.
Second Half: Pakistan Fights Back
- Sufyan Khan Equalizes: Pakistan found momentum in the 38th minute, with Sufyan Khan converting a penalty corner to make it 1-1.
- Hannan Shahid’s Quick Response: Just a minute later, Hannan Shahid capitalized on a well-set play to score, giving Pakistan a 2-1 lead.
- Korea Levels Again: Jihun Yang responded in the 40th minute, tying the game at 2-2 with a penalty corner goal.
Final Surge: Pakistan Secures Victory
- Rooman Restores the Lead: In the 45th minute, Rooman scored a crucial field goal, pushing Pakistan back ahead 3-2.
- Sufyan Khan’s Second Goal: Sufyan struck again in the 49th minute, making it 4-2 with a perfectly executed drag flick.
- Hannan Seals the Win: Hannan Shahid added his second goal in the 54th minute, securing Pakistan’s 5-2 lead.
Key Players and Strategies
- Structured Defense: Pakistan’s defense, led by Muneeb Ur-Rehman in the final quarter, successfully blocked Korea’s attempts to penetrate the circle.
- Sufyan Khan’s Performance: Named Hero of the Match, Sufyan Khan was instrumental in the victory, contributing two goals and maintaining pressure on the Korean defense.
Post-Match Reflections
Sufyan Khan expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, saying, “We are happy to end the tournament on a high note. It was disappointing not to reach the final, but our coach motivated us at half-time, and we came back strong.”
With this win, Pakistan demonstrated their resilience and secured a well-deserved Bronze Medal in the tournament.