Japan made a dramatic finish in the final of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup to capture their maiden title with a 4-1 victory over former champions Pakistan in a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw in regulation time.
Japan’s best performance in the tournament was a fourth- place finish in the 2022 edition when they were beaten 5-3 by Pakistan.
For the Pakistanis, the defeat came as a big blow to them as they had the full support of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif who was taking a personal interest in the progress of the hockey team, and huge number of fans back home.
Pakistan last played in the 2011 final and lost 2-3 to Australia. A victory today against the Japanese would have change their fortunes.
Roelant Oltmans paraded his most effective forwards against the Japanese and yet found the going tough in this thrilling encounter witnessed by the Raja Permaisuri of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim, FIH President Dato Tayyab Ikram, and an estimated 5,000 hockey fans.
The men in green shirts currently lead the head-to-head records with 13 wins while Japan have won eight. The remaining eight matches ended in a draw.
The Samurais, who have never won the SAS Cup since making their entry into the tournament in 1987, dominated the first quarter proceedings with quick attacking moves.
Seren Tanaka started the adrenalin flowing for Japan with the opening goal in the 12th minute. But the Pakistanis, in search of their fourth championship title since 1983, went firing on all cylinders after this.
Ajaz Ahmad equalised in the 34th and Abdul Rehman increased the score to 2-1 three minutes later via a field goal to the joy of their fans.
The celebrations in the Pakistan camp was short-lived by Kazumasa Matsumoto’s field goal in the 47th minute as the Japanese levelled the score 2-2 with 13 minutes remaining until the final buzzer.
Japan’s best chance to take the lead once again came in the 53rd minute when Kosei Kawabe drove the ball into an unmarked goalmouth only to watch in agony the ball go astray.
As the clock raced towards the end of regulation time, Pakistan and Japan could not find the goals in a nail-biting finish and forced the match into a penalty shootout.
JAPAN: TAKASHI YOSHIKAWA (COACH):
“It feels very good to win this tournament for the first time after a long wait. I am very happy and proud of my players as they gave an outstanding performance and it was a very great experience against Pakistan.
They never gave up at any time and got back as fast as they went down by a goal. Pakistan has always been a good and very strong team for Japan.
They (Pakistan) wanted to win and we also wanted to win and we did it. Pakistan is a big team with a big reputation in world hockey and today we will cherish this victory over the former Sultan Azlan Shah Cup champions.”
PAKISTAN: ROELANT OLTMANS (COACH)
“In normal playing time, we should have won this match. There were so many opportunities for us to get back and increase the score in our favour. In the first half we did great and also in the second half we created so many opportunities.
Japan was also much better in the third quarter and there is no doubt about that. They got what they deserved today. We still have a lot to do and there are many promising players.
We have a lot to master our tactics and how we want to play. The boys were everywhere trying to execute the ball into goal but that did not happen till the end.
If you are in the final you must win the final.
There is one thing though – the team that won here will not win the Nations Cup (as Japan will not be competing) and now we have a chance.”
ROLL OF HONOUR:
Champion: Japan
Runner-up: Pakistan
Third: New Zealand
Man of the Match: Waheed Ashraf Rana (Pakistan)
Top Scorer: Muhammad Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal (Malaysia) 8 goals
Best Goalkeeper: Takumi Kitagawa and Takashi Yoshikawa (Japan) joint honours
Player of the Tournament: Sufyan Khan (Pakistan)
Fair Play: Canada
