Pakistan setup showdown with India in Final

Pakistan stormed into the final of the 8th Men’s Junior Asia Cup in dramatic fashion, defeating Korea 8-7 in penalty shootout at the Wisma Belia Hockey Stadium.

The Pakistanis go into Sunday’s final with arch rivals India. It will be the sixth time both teams will go on stage in the final since the inception of the Junior Asia Cup in 1988.

It was also a heart wrenching moment for the 50 over Pakistani fans in the stadium when Ahmad Shakeel Butt scored the equaliser from a penalty corner with just one minute and 55 seconds remaining into the final whistle to force the match into penalty shootout.

For the Koreans, it was a case of so near yet so far. They led 2-1 with the clock ticking away from continuing their giant-killing feat until Ahmad Shakeel drove deep into the Korean hearts with this equaliser.

Kim Sung Yeop kept Korea on top with two goals (18th, 41st) but Ahmad Shakeel threw a life line for Pakistan with a 46th minute penalty corner goal and hit the nail deep with his second two minutes into the end.

Goalkeeper Muhammad Talal Khalid was the toast of Pakistan and a bane to the Koreans in the penalty shootout and was aptly awarded Man of the Match.

Recent Posts

Leave a Comment