The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and New Zealand ended in a 1-1 draw. Pakistan, already securing a spot in the final by defeating Canada, is set to face Japan in the final tomorrow.
Despite both teams having chances, the first half remained without goals. New Zealand scored first with Luke Holmes’ field goal in the 35th minute, but Pakistan leveled the score eight minutes later with Abu Bakr Mahmood’s penalty corner goal.
Pakistan’s unbeaten performance in the round-robin stage, with three wins and two draws, boosts team morale. Looking forward to the FIH Nations Cup, forward Abdul Hannan Shahid pointed out Japan’s strong defense, which capitalizes on opponents’ mistakes effectively.
With Japan conceding the fewest goals in the tournament, they present a tough challenge. While Pakistan excels in scoring, they aim to enhance their defense in upcoming matches. Today’s matches feature Japan against Canada and hosts Malaysia against Korea.
