Pakistan has qualified for the final of the Sultan of Johor Cup after playing out a tense 2-2 draw against Japan at Taman Daya Hockey Stadium on Friday.
Pakistan will face hosts Malaysia in the final after securing second place in the pool standings on the basis of a better goal-scoring record.
Japan took the lead in the 18th minute through Yamada Seia, before Pakistan’s Hamza Fayyaz equalised with a penalty corner in the 34th minute.
Kazuki Nakai restored Japan’s lead with a field goal in the 42nd minute, but Pakistan responded just a minute later as Ghulam Mustafa scored the equaliser to make it 2-2.
Following the draw, Pakistan and Japan finished with seven points each from four matches, with both teams recording a goal difference of +8.
However, Pakistan scored 18 goals in the tournament compared to Japan’s 16, securing second place and a spot in the final.
